3 Chinese astronauts back on Earth
BEIJING – A trio of Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after a 90-day stay aboard their nation’s first space station in China’s longest mission yet.
Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo landed in the Shenzhou-12 spaceship after having undocked from the space station Thursday morning.
State broadcaster CCTV showed footage of the spacecraft parachuting to land in the Gobi Desert where it was met by helicopters and off-road vehicles. Minutes later, a crew of technicians began opening the hatch of the capsule, which appeared undamaged.
The three astronauts emerged about 30 minutes later and were seated in reclining chairs just outside the capsule to allow them time to readjust to Earth’s gravity.
“With China’s growing strength and the rising level of Chinese technology, I firmly believe there will be even more astronauts who will set new records,” mission commander Nie told CCTV.
After launching June 17, the three astronauts went on two spacewalks, deployed a 33-foot mechanical arm, and had a video call with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.