China's Shenzhou-17 crew, the youngest lineup in the nation's space program, has successfully concluded their six-month mission aboard the China Space Station and are set to return to Earth this Tuesday. Led by Commander Tang Hongbo (48), and Operators Tang Shengjie (34) and Jiang Xinlin (35), the trio has marked a significant milestone since the CSS construction began.
The Shenzhou-17 mission follows last year's Shenzhou-16 launch, representing the 30th flight mission of China's manned space program and the 12th manned mission to the CSS. During their time in orbit, the crew performed two extravehicular activities, including China's first-ever extravehicular repair mission.
Additionally, the astronauts conducted 84 in-orbit experiments across various fields such as space life science, biotechnology, space medicine, and space material science, yielding over 200 samples. These samples are set to drive significant scientific advancements, reinforcing China's commitment to space exploration and innovation.
Reference(s):
Shenzhou-17 highlights: A new chapter of China Space Station adventure
cgtn.com
