BEIJING (AP) — Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth on Monday after spending six months aboard the Tiangong space station. This mission is part of China’s broader initiative to establish itself as a leader in global space exploration.
To ensure a controlled landing, a parachute was deployed, slowing their capsule as it descended at night into a remote area of China’s Inner Mongolia. Once they touched down at 1:24 a.m., a Chinese national flag fluttered in the breeze, planted near the capsule.
During their time in space, the astronauts welcomed a new three-person crew last week, which includes one woman and two men. This new team will continue the six-month mission by conducting experiments, performing spacewalks, and installing equipment designed to shield the station from space debris.
China’s space program has made significant strides in recent years, including successful moon missions that returned rocks to Earth and the deployment of a rover on Mars. Looking ahead, China aims to land a person on the moon by 2030, potentially making it the second country, after the United States, to achieve this feat.
Tiangong, which translates to “Heavenly Palace,” was completed two years ago and has been orbiting the Earth. While only Chinese astronauts have visited the space station so far, a spokesperson from the space agency revealed last week that discussions are underway to select and train astronauts from other nations for future missions, as reported by Xinhua.
China faces challenges in its space endeavors, including incidents of space debris. A recent official report noted that Tiangong had to maneuver several times to evade debris and experienced a partial power outage after its solar wing’s power cables were struck by debris.
In August, China was involved in the creation of space debris when a rocket stage reportedly broke apart during the launch of the first 18 satellites intended for a global internet service akin to Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Only astronauts from China have participated in missions to the Tiangong space station, contrasting with the International Space Station, where astronauts from multiple countries have worked together. China is unable to participate in the ISS program primarily due to U.S. concerns regarding the military aspects of China’s space initiatives.
Recently, China outlined an ambitious plan to dominate space science research by 2050, which aligns with its aspirations for advancements in space exploration.
