Shenzhou 18 astronauts return to Earth after a six-month space mission

After a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station, Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu returned safely to Earth and landed at the Dongfeng landing site in northern China. After launching on April 25, the crew concluded their mission on Sunday, November 3, 2024, with the capsule landing at approximately 12:24 a.m. EST (or 12:24 a.m. Beijing time on November 4). According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), all three astronauts are reportedly in good health after their extended stay in orbit.

Highlights of the mission and scientific efforts

According to a recent report by Space, Commander Ye and his crewmates conducted numerous scientific investigations during this period, including studying ancient microbes and conducting emergency drills. The astronauts also completed a record-breaking spacewalk in May and another in June, installing shields to protect the station from space debris. Commander Ye made history, becoming China’s first astronaut to spend more than 365 days in space, following his previous involvement in the Shenzhou 13 mission in 2021-2022.

The astronauts captured images of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, from where they launched in April, and of China’s Wenchang Spaceport, located on Hainan Island, where Tiangong modules were previously launched.

Expansion plans for the space station and future crews

The Shenzhou 18 crew welcomed the arrival of their successors, the Shenzhou 19 team, aboard Tiangong on October 30, marking a brief period in which six astronauts shared the station. The official The transfer of command of the station to Shenzhou 19 commander Cai Xuzhe took place on November 1, continuing China’s practice of smooth orbital transitions since the completion of Tiangong in late 2022.
Chinese space officials plan to expand Tiangong with three additional modules, forming a double T-shaped structure. The expansion will support continuous occupancy, and a Hubble-class telescope is also scheduled for launch into the same orbit, where it will dock with the station for maintenance.