On December 4, 2022, three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth after a significant six-month mission aboard the Tiangong Space Station. The team, comprising commander Chen Dong and astronauts Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe, made a safe landing in the Gobi Desert located in northern China, marking the successful completion of their assignment.
During their tenure in space, the trio, representing the Shenzhou-14 mission, played an integral role in overseeing five pivotal spacecraft dockings. One of these dockings involved attaching the third and final module to the Tiangong, further advancing China’s goals in space exploration. Beyond these technical accomplishments, the astronauts also made significant contributions in other areas. They conducted three spacewalks, delivered a live science lecture directly from the station, and managed a variety of experiments.
Prior to their journey back to Earth, the team overlapped for nearly five days with the new crew members of the Shenzhou-15 mission. This exchange was historically significant for China’s space endeavors as it marked the first instance the country had as many as six astronauts in space concurrently.
The Tiangong Space Station represents more than just another orbiting body. It serves as a symbol of China’s bold space aspirations and their resolve to establish a permanent human presence in orbit. This determination was fueled, in part, by China’s exclusion from the International Space Station (ISS) due to concerns about its space program’s close association with the People’s Liberation Army.
Before the inclusion of the Shenzhou-15 crew and their expansion activities, the Tiangong weighed approximately 66 tons. With the recent additions, its weight now stands at 100 tons. To put this into perspective, when devoid of any attached spacecraft, the International Space Station (ISS) – which launched its initial module in 1998 – weighs around 465 tons. However, the Tiangong holds a potential edge in longevity. Given its estimated lifespan of 10 to 15 years, it might remain operational even if the ISS retires, as anticipated, by the end of this decade.
China’s advances in space exploration have been both steady and remarkable. From being the third nation after Russia and the USA to send an astronaut into orbit independently in 2003, to deploying the Yutu 2 rover for lunar exploration, the country’s space pursuits have been commendable. The safe return of the Shenzhou-14 crew members is but another testament to China’s growing prowess in space.