Three China astronauts return safely to Earth after 'complete success'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Jun 2023 07:55

State news agency Xinhua says the three astronauts emerged from the return capsule of the Shenzhou-15 spaceship in "good physical condition."

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-15 spaceship (Xinhua news agency)

Three Chinese astronauts working at the country's space station have returned safely to Earth, state media reported on Sunday, hailing the mission as a "complete success".

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-15 spaceship touched down at a landing site in northern China's Inner Mongolia region, state news agency Xinhua reported.

60秒回顾神十五返回舱着陆！
6月4日，神舟十五号载人飞船返回舱在东风着陆场成功着陆。欢迎神十五乘组回家！ pic.twitter.com/HCdLU08DLT
— New China 中文 (@XinhuaChinese) June 4, 2023

Astronauts Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu emerged from the capsule in "good physical condition," according to Xinhua.

"The mission... was a complete success," it expressed.

Footage showed medical officials in white jumpsuits and face masks wrapping the astronauts in blue blankets and carrying them away from the landing site.

The trio had spent six months at the Tiangong space station, conducting spacewalks and a variety of scientific experiments.

6月4日，神舟十五号载人飞船返回舱在东风着陆场成功着陆，航天员费俊龙、邓清明、张陆全部安全顺利出舱，神舟十五号载人飞行任务取得圆满成功。 pic.twitter.com/XTRO1c9xAY
— New China 中文 (@XinhuaChinese) June 4, 2023

China last week sent three more astronauts -- including its first civilian in orbit -- to the space station as part of the successor Shenzhou-16 mission.

Notably, China has invested billions of dollars in its space program, aiming to eventually send humans to the Moon.

Beijing is planning to construct a base on the Moon and the country's National Space Administration revealed that it aspires to send a crewed lunar mission by the year 2029.