BEIJING: Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Tuesday safely after spending five months in orbit at the country’s space station, Chinese media reported.
CCTV reported that Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao landed at China’s Dongfeng at 8:11 am (0011 GMT).
Footage showed their capsule parachuting after safe landing at the barren Gobi Desert, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Astronauts are in good health
Doctors have confirmed that the astronauts are in good health after carrying out a medical examination.
According to the reports Shenzhou-16 crewed flight mission was a complete success.
Jing, Zhu and Gui travelled to China’s Tiangong space station in late May and stayed in orbit for 154 days.
During their stay they conducted scientific experiments and also had a nearly eight-hour spacewalk.
READ ALSO: Saudi FM Discusses Gaza Situation with Egypt, Jordan and Morocco Counterparts
Last week a fresh crew replaced them after the Shenzhou-17 mission blasted off from the Jiuquan launch site in China’s northwest.
According to the China’s Manned Space Agency Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin will perform space science and application payload tests.
They will also fix minor damage to the station from space debris.
Beijing has enhanced plans to become a major space power since President Xi Jinping took the power a decade ago.
China has invested billions of dollars in its space programme to match with the United States and Russia.
China also intends to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and eventually build a base on the lunar body.
