Chinese astronauts return to Earth after a successful six-month mission

Three Chinese astronauts landed on Earth on Sunday aboard the spacecraft’s reentry capsule. Shenzhou-14state-run CCTV reported, ending a six-month mission on the Chinese space station.

The three astronauts – Commander Chen Dong and his teammates Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe – who had been overseeing the last crucial period of construction of the space station, which was completed in November, said they felt good after landing in audio. Broadcast on CCTV.

The capsule landed at the Dongfeng site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 8:09 p.m. local time, and space agency staff said the mission, which began on June 5, had been a “total success”, CCTV reported.

Landing site staff removed the exhausted-looking crew members one by one, and shortly after 9:00 p.m. local time all three had safely exited the capsule, CCTV reported.

A new crew of three Chinese astronauts arrived at the space station aboard Shenzhou-15 to take over on Wednesday.

The space station represents a major milestone in China’s manned space program, which was first approved in 1992. It also marks the start of the China’s permanent habitability in space.

Construction of the station began in April last year, with the launch of the first and largest of its three modules, Tianhe, which will house visiting astronauts.