astronauts set record for stay in space
Three Chinese astronauts from the Shenzhou-13 mission returned to Earth on Saturday after setting a record six months on the Chinese space station, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
China’s longest space stay is yet another successful step for Beijing in its ambitious space program to catch up with the United States, Europe and Russia.
With 183 days spent in space, the crew smashes the previous national record, which was 92 days and which was set in 2021 during the previous manned mission, Shenzhou-12.
The crew consisted of three army pilots: Commander Zhai Zhigang (55), his colleague Wang Yaping (42) and Ye Guangfu (41), who was on his first space flight.
An analysis of the state of health of the astronauts of Shenzhou-13 will allow China to learn more about the impact of a prolonged absence of gravity on organisms.
In six months, the crew led two courses via the Internet for Chinese schoolchildren, carried out experiments, refined their mastery of long-term stays and continued the construction of the station.