HONG KONG, China — Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth on Friday after completing nearly seven months aboard the Tiangong space station, marking the longest orbital mission undertaken by a Chinese crew to date.
The Shenzhou 21 crew capsule, carrying astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang, landed at the Dongfeng site in north China’s Inner Mongolia region in the evening, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Their extended mission comes as China continues preparations for its planned first crewed lunar landing by 2030, a key milestone in its expanding space program.
During their stay in orbit, the astronauts carried out a wide range of scientific and operational tasks, including processing and transmitting experimental data and transferring remaining supplies. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that the crew also briefed members of the incoming Shenzhou 23 team, who arrived at the space station earlier in the week.
Earlier reports from Xinhua stated that the Shenzhou 21 crew completed three spacewalks. Space agency spokesperson Zhang Jingbo said Zhang Lu, who previously flew on the Shenzhou 15 mission, has now completed seven spacewalks in total, making him the Chinese astronaut with the most extravehicular activities recorded.
Upon returning to China, Zhang Lu described his emotions as overwhelming, expressing gratitude to his family, colleagues, and those involved in the space program for their support throughout the mission.
Fellow astronaut Zhang Hongzhang reflected on the experience of viewing Earth from orbit, saying he was struck by the idea that humanity forms a shared community with a common future.
The Tiangong space station, whose name translates to “Heavenly Palace,” continues to host rotating crews. One of the astronauts who arrived with the Shenzhou 23 mission is expected to remain in orbit for a full year. The crew includes commander Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying, also identified by Chinese authorities as Li Jiaying, who is noted as the first astronaut from Hong Kong to participate in a space mission.
China’s growing human spaceflight program has accelerated in recent years following its exclusion from the International Space Station over U.S. national security concerns. The United States remains a key competitor in space exploration, with NASA targeting a crewed lunar landing in 2028.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
