The Shenzhou-21 crew returned to Earth on Friday after 210 days aboard the Tiangong space station, setting a new record for Chinese astronauts.
The trio touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region at 8:11 pm aboard the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft. State broadcaster CCTV reported the landing, and ground medical teams confirmed the astronauts were in good physical condition.
The China Manned Space Agency noted that the crew witnessed the country’s first emergency spacecraft launch and a delayed crew return during their mission. It described the period as marked by “unforgettable moments of unity and concerted efforts across the entire manned space programme in carrying out emergency operations.”
The 210-day stay established the record for the longest on-orbit mission by a Chinese crew.
