The three-member Shenzhou-17 crew arrived in Beijing by plane early on Wednesday after a six-month mission to China's space station.
On Tuesday, the Shenzhou-17 return capsule carrying astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 5:46 p.m. Beijing Time. The crew exited the capsule by 6:37 p.m., according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
After spending 187 days in orbit, the astronauts are reported to be in good health. The CMSA declared the Shenzhou-17 mission a success.
Initial health checks confirmed that the crew members are in good condition. \"Every time I flew over the homeland, I looked for it,\" Tang told China Media Group (CMG) after exiting the capsule. \"Thanks for everyone's attention. I missed you so much.\"
Tang set a record for the longest stay in space for an astronaut, totaling 279 days across two missions to the China Space Station.
The crew will now enter a period of medical quarantine and undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health evaluations. Following this, they will meet with the press in Beijing.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
