The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-13 mission returned to Earth on Saturday after six months in the Chinese space station, announced the state television channel CCTV. This is the longest stay in space ever made by China.
This is another successful step for Beijing in its ambitious space program to catch up with the United States, Europe and Russia.
With 183 days spent in space, the crew smashes the previous national record for a stay in space, which was 92 days and which was set in 2021 during the previous manned mission, Shenzhou-12.
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State of health analyzed
The crew was made up of three army pilots: Commander Zhai Zhigang (55), his colleague Wang Yaping (42) and the youngest Ye Guangfu (41), whose first spaceflight it was.
An analysis of the state of health of the astronauts of Shenzhou-13 will allow China to learn more about the impact of a prolonged absence of gravity on organisms.
Facilitation of course
In six months, the crew led two courses via the Internet for Chinese schoolchildren, carried out experiments, refined their mastery of long-term stays and continued the construction of the station.
Named in Chinese Tiangong (“Heavenly Palace”) but also known by its English acronym CSS (for “Chinese Space Station” in French), it should be completed by the end of 2022.
afp/hkr