"Mom Who Picks Stars Returns"... China's Manned Spacecraft Shenzhou 13 Safely Returns to Earth After 6 Months

183-day Stay... Longest Record in Chinese History

‘Shenzhou 13’ spacecraft launched into space [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] The Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft, launched to support the construction project of China's space station Tiangong (天宮), safely returned to Earth on the morning of the 16th (local time).

According to China's state-run Global Times and others, the Shenzhou 13, carrying three astronauts, began separating from the core module Tianhe (天和) at 00:44 that day and safely landed at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, the return point, at 09:56 a.m.

The three astronauts, Zhai Zhigang (翟志剛), Wang Yaping (王亞平), and Ye Guangfu (葉光富), waited inside the capsule for 1 hour and 10 minutes to adapt to Earth's gravity and appeared at 11:05 a.m. The on-site medical staff checked their health, and all were reported to be in good condition.

China Media Group (CMG) stated that the Shenzhou 13 manned spaceflight mission was successfully completed, marking the successful completion of the core technology verification phase of the space station mission and symbolizing that the construction phase of the Chinese space station is about to begin.

Shenzhou 13 was launched into space on October 16 last year from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province, northwest China, aboard the Long March-2F Yao-13 rocket. It successfully docked with the core module Tianhe of the Tiangong space station and carried out key technology tests related to the assembly and construction of Tiangong, installed various devices necessary for the station's construction, and conducted scientific experiments.

Commander Zhai Zhigang, who emerged from the capsule, expressed, "I feel good." Wang Yaping, the first Chinese female astronaut, joyfully said, "The mom who reached for the stars has returned home."

Shenzhou 13 stayed in space for 183 days, the longest duration in the history of China's space development, performing its mission. Notably, it was the first time a Chinese female astronaut conducted a spacewalk.

Since launching its first manned spacecraft in 2003, China landed on the lunar surface in 2013 and sent an unmanned probe to Mars last year.

Meanwhile, China plans to complete the Tiangong space station project by the end of this year. The space station under construction by China is 37 meters long and weighs 90 tons, about one-third the size of the International Space Station (ISS), which is currently jointly operated by the United States, Russia, and others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.