Picture this: three astronauts from the Chinese mainland orbiting Earth for 188 days straight. Soon, they’ll shatter the record for the longest in-orbit mission by a crew from the Chinese mainland! 🚀✨
At a press conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency, confirmed that all mission tasks are progressing smoothly and the trio are in top form.
Mission commander Chen Dong has already logged over 400 days in space across missions—a first for an astronaut from the Chinese mainland—and led six extravehicular activities (EVAs), more than anyone else in Chinese history.
First-timers Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie have also completed their goals, carrying out four EVAs and seven cargo transfers between Shenzhou-20 and the station’s modules. They installed debris protection devices, set up external support tools, and upgraded foot restraints on the platform, boosting outside-cabin efficiency like never before.
On the science front, close teamwork with ground-based labs has led to breakthroughs in space life science, microgravity physics, space materials, aerospace medicine, and new technologies. Highlights include growing high-quality protein crystals that could support cancer research, heating tungsten alloy to a scorching 3,100 °C (a world record!), and capturing charged colloids forming long-lived crystal structures under microgravity.
With crew rotation and return preparations already underway, these space explorers are ready to come home—and write their names in the record books. Stay tuned! 🌍💫
Reference(s):
China's Shenzhou-20 crew to set new record for longest space stay
cgtn.com
