The crew of China’s Shenzhou-20 mission has safely returned to Earth, concluding more than six months aboard the country’s space station and setting a new national record for the longest stay in orbit by a single crew. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, carrying the three astronauts, landed at the Dongfeng site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 4:40 p.m. Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Earlier in the day, at 2:49 p.m., the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center issued the return command through ground tracking stations. Shortly after the order was transmitted, the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft detached from the space station combination, marking the beginning of the crew’s journey home.
Following a successful de-orbit burn, the return capsule separated from the propulsion module and descended toward the landing zone. Search-and-rescue teams were dispatched immediately and located the capsule soon after touchdown. Medical personnel on-site confirmed that astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie were all in good physical condition after their long mission.
By 5:21 p.m., all three astronauts also known as taikonauts had exited the capsule safely, waving to recovery crews as they began readjusting to Earth’s gravity after 204 days in space. Their extended stay surpasses all previous Chinese missions and represents another milestone for China’s rapidly developing space program.
During their mission, the Shenzhou-20 crew conducted four spacewalks, carried out cargo transfers, and assisted with ongoing construction and maintenance tasks aboard the space station. Working closely with research teams on Earth, they carried out a wide range of scientific experiments across microgravity physics, materials science, life sciences, aerospace medicine, and space technology.
Mission commander Chen Dong said he felt “very grounded” after returning to Earth. He described the journey of human space exploration as one filled with obstacles and challenges, but also one worth undertaking. “That is exactly why we choose this path,” Chen said. “This mission tested us and trained us. I’m proud that we completed it successfully and that China’s space program once again proved its strength.”
Crew member Chen Zhongrui reflected on the mission’s timeline, noting that they had launched on April 24. He praised the unity of the team and the strong coordination between space and ground operations. “We completed all our tasks, and I feel truly fortunate to have been part of this mission,” he said.
As China continues expanding its space station program and deepening scientific research, the Shenzhou-20 crew’s achievements mark another step forward in the country’s long-term space ambitions.
