KillBait NewsShenzhou 22 Returns to Earth Carrying Shenzhou 21 Crew After Extended Tiangong Mission
📰 Original title: Regreso de la Shenzhou 22 con la tripulación de la Shenzhou 21
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Shenzhou 22 Returns to Earth Carrying Shenzhou 21 Crew After Extended Tiangong Mission
The Shenzhou 22 spacecraft has successfully returned to Earth carrying the crew of Shenzhou 21, marking the end of a prolonged mission aboard China’s Tiangong space station. The landing took place on May 29, 2026, at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia. Onboard were commander Zhang Lu, flight engineer Wu Fei, and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, who had originally launched on October 31, 2025, aboard Shenzhou 21. The mission lasted 210 days in orbit, setting a new endurance record for Chinese space missions and surpassing the previous record held by the Shenzhou 20 crew. This mission was notable not only for its duration but also for the operational adjustments required during a recent spacecraft anomaly involving Shenzhou 20, which had developed suspected window damage. As a result, crew rotations were modified, and multiple spacecraft were used in unconventional return configurations across the program. During their stay aboard Tiangong, the astronauts conducted extensive scientific research and three spacewalks (EVAs), focusing on spacecraft inspection, installation of shielding against micrometeoroids and space debris, and maintenance of station modules such as Tianhe and Mengtian. Commander Zhang Lu achieved a record number of seven EVAs for a Chinese astronaut, accumulating more than 47 hours of extravehicular activity, while Wu Fei became one of the youngest Chinese astronauts to perform a spacewalk. The crew also carried out experiments in life sciences, materials science, and aerospace medicine, returning approximately 41 kilograms of scientific samples to Earth. The mission also highlighted evolving operational maturity within China’s human spaceflight program, including extended missions, emergency response protocols, and multi-capsule return strategies. After landing, the astronauts underwent medical checks and transportation to recovery facilities before entering post-mission quarantine in Beijing. Meanwhile, a new crew remains aboard Tiangong following the recent arrival of Shenzhou 23, continuing the station’s long-term human presence in orbit.
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