Space enthusiasts, get ready for lift-off—almost in reverse! After a remarkable six-month mission aboard the Chinese space station, the Shenzhou-19 crew is set to return. The Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is all geared up for the touchdown of the return capsule carrying astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze on April 29.
On Friday, almost 100 support vehicles were deployed, and by early afternoon, five helicopters made precision landings near the target area. The ground crew then simulated opening the capsule hatch and carefully extracting the astronauts, ensuring every safety procedure was followed. The entire return and landing process is expected to last about 50 minutes.
Meanwhile, excitement in space continues as a Long March-2F rocket launched the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday. After docking with the space station, the Shenzhou-20 crew joined the Shenzhou-19 astronauts, marking the sixth in-orbit crew handover in Chinese space history. For the next five days, all six astronauts will work together, completing scheduled tasks and transferring responsibilities.
This seamless blend of cutting-edge technology and meticulous planning underscores a new milestone in space exploration. Strap in and enjoy the journey—space just got even more exciting! 🚀🌌
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Shenzhou-19 crew set to return as Dongfeng landing site stands ready
cgtn.com
