Chinese Space Station Shenzhou 16 Astronauts Return Safely, Hand Over Control to Youngest Crew Ever on Shenzhou 17

Shenzhou 16 astronauts return after six months on the Tiangong space station, with the incoming Shenzhou 17 crew featuring China's youngest spacefarers until date; set to undertake scientific experiments, undertake a spacewalk to repair minor damages, and sustain China's renewed ambitions in space exploration.

The Shenzhou 16 astronauts, Zhu Yangzhu, Gui Haichao, and commander Jing Haiping, returned to Earth safely after spending six months aboard the Tiangong space station, landing near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at the Gobi desert.
China's youngest crew ever, led by Tang Hongbo, arrived at the Tiangong station on Oct. 26, taking over from Shenzou 16 crew. The new crew includes former People's Liberation Army Air Force fighter pilot Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, both in their mid-thirties.
Shenzhou 16 and 17 crews undertook a handover ceremony during which the key to the hatch door of Tiangong was formally handed over. This marked the third such transition since the space station's commissioning.
The incoming Shenzhou 17 crew will conduct various scientific experiments, perform a spacewalk for the inspection and potential repair of minor damages sustained by the station's solar arrays, and maintain equipment during their stay.
China's space ambitions have been renewed with the successful operation of Tiangong, their answer to the International Space Station. The country is planning to expand Tiangong, keenly invest millions in space exploration technology, and intends to put astronauts on the Moon by 2030.