VIDEO: Chinese Spacecraft Disintegrates in Fiery Re-Entry to Earth, All Astronauts Lands Safely

Beijing: China's Shenzhou 18 crew has returned to Earth after spending over six months in space. Astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu have been aboard the Tiangong space station since April 25. 

They concluded their mission on November 3, landing at the Dongfeng site in northern China at approximately 12:24 p.m. EST (1724 GMT or 12:24 a.m. on November 4 Beijing time). The China Manned Space Agency reported that all three astronauts are in good health.

Chinese Spacecraft Disintegrates After Fiery Re-Entry To Earth | WATCH

The crew made up of astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, undocked from the space station before undergoing a fiery re-entry, during which the propulsion module disintegrated.

This marks the second nighttime landing for astronauts at Dongfeng, with observation and rescue teams employing infrared thermal imagers to track the capsule.

During their time on Tiangong, Commander Ye and his crew conducted various scientific experiments, including research on ancient microbes. 

They set a national record for spacewalks, with one in May and another in June to install protective shielding against space debris. Ye also made history as China’s first astronaut to exceed a cumulative total of 365 days in space, having previously participated in the Shenzhou 13 mission from 2021 to 2022.

Additionally, the crew carried out emergency drills and filmed the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, where they launched in April, as well as the Wenchang spaceport on Hainan Island, which was used for launching Tiangong's modules.