China’s Shenzhou 18 Astronauts Return to Earth After Six Months in Space

China’s Shenzhou 18 crew, made up of astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Guangsu, and Li Cong, returned to Earth on Sunday (Nov. 3) after spending over six months aboard the Tiangong space station. The crew’s landing took place at the Dongfeng landing site in northern China at around 12:24 p.m. EST (17:24 GMT or 12:24 a.m. on Nov. 4 Beijing time). According to the China Manned Space Agency, the astronauts are in good health following the mission.

This was only the second time a Chinese crew has landed at Dongfeng during the night. Recovery teams used infrared thermal imaging to safely track the capsule’s descent and ensure a smooth retrieval.

Science and Spacewalks on Tiangong

While aboard Tiangong, the crew conducted a range of scientific experiments, including studies on ancient microbes. They set a national record for a spacewalk in May and performed another in June, installing shields to protect the station against space debris.

Ye Guangfu achieved a personal milestone by surpassing 365 days in space across his career, becoming China’s first astronaut to reach this cumulative total, following his previous mission on Shenzhou 13 in 2021-2022.

Historic Crew Handover

The Shenzhou 18 crew welcomed their successors, the Shenzhou 19 team, just days before their return. This handover, led by Commander Ye, was China’s fifth official crew change on the Tiangong space station since its completion in late 2022. Commander Cai Xuzhe officially took control of the orbital outpost on Nov. 1, marking a significant moment for China’s expanding presence in space.

Future Plans for Tiangong

China has ambitious plans for Tiangong, which is about 20% the size of the International Space Station. Officials recently announced an expansion plan, aiming to add three additional modules to form a “double T” shape. The station is also set to host a Hubble-class telescope in the same orbit, allowing it to dock for maintenance and repairs. China intends for Tiangong to remain continuously occupied and operational for at least a decade.