After a mission extended by nine days due to a suspected space debris impact, the three astronauts of China’s Shenzhou XX crew have returned safely to Earth. Commander Chen Dong, along with crew members Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, landed at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia on Friday afternoon.

Their original return spacecraft, the Shenzhou XX, was found to have a cracked window, prompting mission controllers to prioritize crew safety. In an unprecedented move, the astronauts returned aboard the reentry capsule of the newly arrived Shenzhou XXI spacecraft. The crew had spent 204 days in orbit aboard the Tiangong space station, conducting four spacewalks and numerous scientific tasks. Following the landing, the astronauts were reported to be in good health, with Commander Chen Dong stating they had successfully overcome the challenges and completed all mission objectives.

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