The three-member crew of China's Shenzhou-17 spacecraft has safely returned to Beijing early Wednesday after a successful six-month mission aboard the country's space station.
Commander Tang Hongbo and fellow astronauts Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday at 5:46 p.m. Beijing Time. By 6:37 p.m., all three had exited the return capsule, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
After spending 187 days in orbit, initial health checks confirmed that the astronauts are in good condition. "Every time I flew over the homeland, I looked for it," Tang Hongbo told China Media Group shortly after exiting the capsule. "Thanks for everyone's attention. I missed you so much."
Tang Hongbo has now set a new record for the longest cumulative time in space by a Chinese astronaut, totaling 279 days over two missions to the China Space Station.
The crew will now undergo a period of medical quarantine and comprehensive health evaluations. They are expected to meet with the press in Beijing following these procedures.
The successful completion of the Shenzhou-17 mission marks a significant milestone in China's rapidly advancing space exploration program, demonstrating the country's growing capabilities in long-duration manned spaceflight.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
