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4d ago

China's Shenzhou-19 Crew Safely Returns After Six-Month Space Mission

The Shenzhou-19 astronauts landed in Inner Mongolia after a weather-delayed descent, concluding a record-setting mission aboard the Tiangong space station.

Image
FILE- Chinese astronauts Wang Haoze, from left, Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong wave as they attend the see-off ceremony for the Shenzhou-19 mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, in the early hours of Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
FILE -Shenzhou-19 spacecraft sitting atop a Long March rocket takes off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China in the early hours of Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
A Long March-2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft sits at the launch pad before taking off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for a crewed mission to China's Tiangong space station, near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo

Overview

  • Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze returned to Earth on April 30, 2025, after a 183-day mission on the Tiangong space station.
  • The landing, initially scheduled for April 29, was delayed due to strong winds and low visibility, marking the first use of an alternate landing site at Dongfeng.
  • During their mission, the Shenzhou-19 crew conducted 86 scientific experiments, including exposing simulated lunar soil to space conditions, aiding China's lunar ambitions.
  • Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong set a world record with a nine-hour spacewalk in December 2024, installing debris shields and inspecting equipment.
  • The Shenzhou-20 crew has successfully taken over operations on Tiangong, beginning their six-month stay with experiments in medical technology and space debris protection.