The capsule carrying astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu touched down at the Dongfeng site in Inner Mongolia at 1:24 a.m. Beijing time, and by 2:15 a.m., the astronauts had exited. CMSA confirmed they were all in good physical condition after 192 days in orbit.
Commander Ye set a new record as the first Chinese astronaut to accumulate more than a year in space over his missions, including his role in the Shenzhou-13 mission from October 2021 to April 2022. "With more missions, I believe this record will be broken again soon," Ye said.
Li Cong, completing his first space mission, highlighted the crew's teamwork and collaboration with ground teams to ensure smooth spacewalks and successful research. "Weightlessness is an unforgettable experience," said Li Guangsu, "and while it's exciting to return to Earth, it's hard to say goodbye to the wonders of space."
At 12:34 a.m., the Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued the command to start the return sequence, separating Shenzhou-18's capsule from its orbital module. After entering the atmosphere, the capsule’s braking engine activated, guiding it safely to the landing site.
Launched on April 25, 2024, Shenzhou-18's mission involved extensive scientific research and extravehicular tasks. The astronauts used specialized equipment to conduct experiments in microgravity physics, materials science, life sciences, medicine, and space technology.
They replaced experiment modules in the combustion and fluid physics cabinets, conducted spacecraft docking exercises, and completed two spacewalks. The first spacewalk, held in May, set a record for the longest single activity by Chinese astronauts, lasting more than eight hours and including the installation of debris shields.
The crew also performed emergency decision-making exercises in space, analyzed by ground personnel to assess cognitive performance and adaptability. Routine medical checks monitored the astronauts' health, including heart rate and blood pressure, throughout the mission.
