Three Chinese astronauts return to Earth after record-setting nearly seven-month space mission

Three Chinese astronauts have successfully returned to Earth after completing a nearly seven-month mission in space, setting a new record for the longest duration in orbit by a Chinese crew.

The spacecraft, Shenzhou 21, carrying astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongdeng, landed on a training ground in China's Inner Mongolia region. This mission highlights China's intensive development of its space program, which includes plans for a lunar landing by 2030.

During their time aboard the Tiangong space station, the crew undertook a variety of tasks. These included processing and transmitting experimental data and transferring remaining supplies. They also shared their experiences with the crew of Shenzhou 23, which arrived at the station earlier in the week.

The returning astronauts conducted three spacewalks during their mission. Zhang Lu, who also participated in the earlier Shenzhou 15 mission, has now completed a total of seven spacewalks, making him the Chinese astronaut with the most spacewalks to date.

China's space station, Tiangong, was established after the country was excluded from participating in the International Space Station due to U.S. national security concerns. China views the U.S. as its main space rival, with NASA planning its own lunar landing in 2028.