The Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has transformed into a hive of activity over recent weeks. Teams there have run marathon drills to ensure every second counts when the Shenzhou-20 crew returns from orbit.
Across multiple high-intensity exercises, technicians and rescuers have stress-tested core systems:
- Air search and rescue: helicopter crews simulated complex night and day missions.
- Ground response: rapid-deployment units practised moving across rough terrain.
- Communication networks: engineers verified secure, uninterrupted data links.
- Medical monitoring: doctors timed life-support handoffs and emergency transport.
After each drill, performance metrics — including response times and system uptime — were analysed to fine-tune procedures. Now, every search team and piece of equipment stands ready for action.
Astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie launched aboard Shenzhou-20 this April and have spent months conducting extravehicular activities and exploring microgravity science on China’s space station. As the mission wraps up, these Dongfeng drills are the final critical step in bringing them safely back to Earth.
From rigorous simulations to real-world data analysis, the operation showcases the precision and teamwork behind modern crewed spaceflight, offering a glimpse into the future of human exploration.
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Drills conducted at landing site for Shenzhou-20 crew's return
cgtn.com
