China’s Shenzhou-18 astronauts return to Earth after six-month space mission

Shenzhou-18 Return Capsule Touches Down On Earth

INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA - NOVEMBER 04: Astronaut Li Guangsu is out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site on November 4, 2024 in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. The Shenzhou-18 crew consisting of three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth safely in the early morning on Monday, after completing a six-month space station mission. (Photo by Wang Xiaobo/VCG )No Use China.

Source: X07940

China’s Shenzhou-18 crew safely returned to Earth early Monday, November 4, following a six-month mission aboard the country’s Tiangong space station.

The three astronauts—mission commander Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—touched down at 1:24 a.m. Beijing Time at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed.

Commander Ye, who previously flew as part of the Shenzhou-13 crew from October 2021 to April 2022, has now become the first Chinese astronaut with over a year of cumulative time in space. This achievement marks a new record for the longest duration a Chinese astronaut has spent in orbit.

"Chinese astronauts have flown to space in successive missions," Ye said. "I believe that the record of the duration in orbit will be broken in the near future."

The Shenzhou-18 mission concluded after the crew were succeeded by the Shenzhou-19 crew, who landed in space on October 30 and are expected to remain on the station until late April or early May 2025.

Another team will take over at that time, ensuring the Tiangong station remains permanently crewed.

Edward Sakyi