The three astronauts from the Shenzhou-17 mission made a triumphant return to Earth on April 30, marking the end of a record-breaking 187-day journey in space. Their appearance at the press conference in Beijing was the first public engagement since their monumental mission.
All three crew members—Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin—are in excellent physical and mental health. Their muscle strength, endurance, and exercise cardiopulmonary function have returned to pre-flight levels, ensuring they are ready for future challenges.
Launched on October 26, 2023, the Shenzhou-17 mission surpassed previous records, setting a new benchmark for Chinese spaceflights. During their time in orbit, the astronauts conducted 84 space application experiments and produced over 200 samples across multiple fields.
Commander Tang Hongbo, in his second spaceflight, now holds the record for the longest spaceflight time among Chinese astronauts. \"I am honored to witness and participate in the remarkable advancements of China's manned spaceflights,\" he shared at the press conference.
The youngest astronaut, Tang Shengjie, celebrated his 34th birthday while aboard the space station. Looking ahead, he plans to undergo further training and aims for an early return to space.
Jiang Xinlin highlighted the success of the two spacewalks and China's first extravehicular maintenance task. Thanks to comprehensive training, the process went smoothly.
The trio will resume regular training after completing all health and wellbeing assessments, ready to inspire the next generation of space explorers. 🌌👨🚀
