In a celebration of human achievement and dedication to space exploration, China recently honored the brave astronauts of the Shenzhou-17 mission with prestigious medals.
Awarded by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, the recognition highlights the astronauts' significant contributions to the nation's space endeavors.
Commander Tang Hongbo received a second-class aerospace achievement medal, marking his second journey to the China Space Station. During a recent press conference, Tang expressed pride in witnessing and contributing to China's remarkable advancements in manned spaceflights.
Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin were awarded third-class medals and bestowed with the honorary title of \"heroic astronauts.\" Notably, Tang celebrates being the youngest astronaut to enter China's space station, turning 34 during his first spaceflight. Jiang played a crucial role as the chief operator for extravehicular maintenance activities, successfully completing all assigned tasks.
The Shenzhou-17 mission, launched on October 26, 2023, set a new record by spending 187 days in orbit before safely returning to Earth on April 30. Throughout their mission, the trio conducted two extravehicular activities and carried out approximately 100 space application experiments and tests, pushing the boundaries of scientific research and technological innovation.
The achievements of the Shenzhou-17 crew underscore China's growing prowess in space exploration and its commitment to advancing global knowledge and capabilities in this frontier.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
