3 Chinese Astronauts Return After Six-Month Mission on Tiangong Space Station

Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth on Wednesday after completing a six-month mission aboard China’s Tiangong space station.

Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze landed in Dongfeng, located in northern Inner Mongolia near the Gobi Desert, following a one-day delay caused by strong winds and poor visibility. Their return capsule descended gently under a red-and-white parachute, marking the end of the Shenzhou-19 mission launched in October 2024.

The astronauts handed over control of the space station to a new crew that arrived aboard Shenzhou-20, which also delivered equipment for space life sciences, microgravity physics, and advanced technology experiments.

During their mission, the crew conducted numerous scientific experiments and system upgrades. Cai and Song also completed a nine-hour spacewalk — the longest ever recorded, according to China’s space agency.

The Tiangong, meaning “Heavenly Palace,” represents China’s ambitious independent space efforts after being excluded from the U.S.-led International Space Station program. Built entirely by China, the station solidifies its growing presence in space exploration.

China’s space program, led by the People’s Liberation Army, has made major strides in recent years — from landing a rover on the far side of the moon to exploring Mars. The country aims to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.