In a significant milestone for China's ongoing orbital presence, the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft successfully separated from the China Space Station at 2:44 p.m. Beijing Time on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The undocking marks the beginning of the journey home for the three-person Shenzhou-21 crew, consisting of astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang. The separation follows a comprehensive series of departure procedures conducted by the crew in coordination with ground support teams.
Prior to their departure, the crew focused on ensuring the seamless continuity of station operations. These efforts included configuring the orbital complex's systems, sorting and downloading vital experimental data, and transferring materials remaining in orbit. To ensure a smooth transition of leadership and operations on the station, the Shenzhou-21 crew also completed a detailed handover of duties and exchanged critical notes on in-orbit work experiences with the arriving Shenzhou-23 crew.
The Shenzhou-22 return capsule is now awaiting the precise command from ground control to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, bringing the astronauts back to the mainland after their successful mission.
Reference(s):
China's Shenzhou-22 spacecraft undocks from space station for re-entry
cgtn.com
