Three Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth after spending six months on the country’s space station, marking a significant milestone in Beijing’s ambitious space programme. The Shenzhou-19 crew carried out experiments and set a new record for the longest spacewalk during their time on board.
Led by Commander Cai Xuzhe, a 48-year-old former air force pilot, the team of astronauts also included Wang Haoze, China’s only woman spaceflight engineer at the time of launch, and Song Lingdong. The crew had initially been scheduled to return last week but their landing was postponed due to bad weather.
The astronauts’ six-month mission was part of Beijing’s efforts to become a major celestial power by 2030. The country aims to fly a crewed mission to the Moon by then and establish a base on its surface. China has invested billions of dollars in its space programme, including the development of its space station, Tiangong.
The astronauts’ return marks an important step forward for China’s space ambitions, with their record-breaking spacewalk demonstrating the country’s growing capabilities in space exploration.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20250430-shenzhou-19-crew-returns-to-earth-after-six-months-on-china-space-station