China’s Shenzhou 18 group have returned house after greater than six months in area.Astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu lived on board China’s Tiangong area station since April 25 this yr. They concluded their undertaking on Sunday (Nov. 3), touching down on the Dongfeng touchdown web page in north China.The touchdown came about at about 12:24 p.m. EST (1724 GMT or 12:24 a.m. on Nov. 4 Beijing time). The 3 astronauts had been all reported to be in excellent well being, consistent with the China Manned House Company.Comparable: China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong area station on Shenzhou 19 undertaking (video)
China’s Shenzhou 18 spacecraft with astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu is noticed on the Dongfeng touchdown web page in north China after touchdown from the Tiangong area station on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Symbol credit score: CCTV)It was once the second one time that astronauts landed at Dongfeng all over the middle of the night. Statement and seek and rescue groups used infrared thermal imagers to trace the pill.Previous to leaving the distance station, commander Ye and his crewmates performed a variety of science experiments all over their time aboard Tiangong, together with finding out historic microbes. They carried out a countrywide report spacewalk outdoor the distance station in Might, and launched into some other in June to put in protecting shielding towards area particles. Ye additionally just lately turned into China’s first astronaut to surpass 12 months in area in overall, having up to now been a member of the Shenzhou 13 undertaking in 2021-2022.The trio additionally performed emergency drills and captured video of the Jiuquan Satellite tv for pc Release Middle within the Gobi Wasteland—from which they introduced in April—and the Wenchang spaceport, at the island of Hainan, from which Tiangong’s modules had been introduced.Breaking area information, the most recent updates on rocket launches, skywatching occasions and extra!The trio greeted the incoming Shenzhou 19 group aboard Tiangong on Oct. 30, that means China in short had six astronauts in area. Commander Ye formally passed over the keep watch over of the orbital outpost to Shenzhou 19 commander Cai Xuzhe on Nov. 1. The reputable rite marked China’s 5th such orbital changeover since finishing the three-module area station in overdue 2022.China intends to stay Tiangong, which is more or less 20% as large because the World House Station, completely occupied and operational for a minimum of a decade. Officers just lately unveiled plans to amplify the distance station right into a double T-shape via including 3 new modules. It’ll additionally ship a Hubble-class area telescope into the similar orbit, permitting it to dock to Tiangong for upkeep and upkeep.
