China’s Shenzhou 15 astronauts returned to Earth with a smooth and protected weekend landing after completing a six-month mission to the country’s space station.
Astronauts Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu touched down of their Shenzhou 15 spacecraft return capsule on the Dongfeng landing site at 6:33 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 3, (2233 GMT; or 6:33 a.m. on June 4 Beijing Time), based on the China Manned Space Agency.
The Shenzhou 15 crew launched from Jiuquan in northwest China on Nov. 29 and were a part of the first-ever crew handover on China’s recent Tiangong space station.
Fei and his crewmates had taken over control of the station from the Shenzhou 14 crew in early December. They welcomed the incoming Shenzhou 16 crew on May 29.
Related: China’s Shenzhou 15 astronauts quietly conduct third spacewalk (video)
“We’re feeling good,” mission commander Fei said in a transient interview right after exiting the return capsule.
The mission was Deng Qingming’s first flight to space, having been chosen in China’s first batch of astronauts back in 1997. That is an almost 26-year wait for his first trip to space.
“Now, I actually, really miss my family and my hometown. My experience as an astronaut over the past 25 years makes me imagine more firmly in the ability of dreams and persistence,” Deng told Chinese state media.
The Shenzhou 15 crew launched into 4 extravehicular activities, or spacewalks, during their time in space, setting a national record. The trio also carried out a variety of science experiments and outreach activities.
Tests included using a two-photon microscope to image an astronaut’s skin, testing a free-piston Stirling thermoelectric converter, in addition to various experiments using a combustion chamber. Two of Tiangong’s three modules are science modules which contain various experiment racks.
Meanwhile, in orbit, the brand new Shenzhou 16 astronauts are expected to stay aboard Tiangong until this upcoming November, after they might be relieved by the Shenzhou 17 crew. China goals to maintain Tiangong operational and permanently occupied for a minimum of a decade.
