Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhan landed in Dongfeng at 20:11 on May 29, handed over the station to the Shenzhou-23 crew, and brought a gift for all science and technology workers

As reported by CCTV+, on Friday, three astronauts of China’s manned spacecraft Shenzhou-21 safely returned to Earth after completing their scheduled tasks aboard the Tiangong space station.

The return capsule carrying astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhan landed in Dongfeng, Inner Mongolia, at 20:11 Beijing time. According to officials at the site, the returned astronauts are in good physical condition.

Zhang Lu was the first to exit the capsule. He said: “I am thrilled to be back in the embrace of our motherland. Our seven-month stay in orbit would not have been possible without the care of our families, the support of our leaders and colleagues. My thoughts on my second space mission can be summed up in one phrase: for one person to travel into the sea of stars, the whole team must give their all.”

Wu Fei shared: “Back on Earth, I feel extremely confident and proud. The trust of my country, the guidance of my predecessors and our teamwork allowed me to complete the mission successfully. This mission taught me that the finest position of youth is to move forward for the sake of the country.”

Zhang Hongzhan, the last to leave the spacecraft, said: “From the ground laboratory to the space station — it is our motherland that allowed me to realise my scientific ideals and dreams. We successfully completed all tasks, including the first successful breeding of small mammals in orbit and creating a space garden with an even wider variety of species.”

A special moment: Zhang Lu said the crew brought an apple with them. “On the launch day, the ground support team gave us an apple, wishing us a safe mission. Tomorrow, May 30, is National Science and Technology Workers’ Day. We want to give this apple to all science and technology workers and say: ‘Thank you for your hard work’.”

The returned astronauts will fly to Beijing, where they will undergo a quarantine recovery period, comprehensive medical examinations and health assessments. Before returning, they completed all scheduled tasks and handed over the space station to the Shenzhou-23 crew, who boarded the station on May 25.

Their stay in orbit was extended by about a month to test technologies for long-duration habitation and to fully use supplies delivered by the emergency Shenzhou-22 spacecraft.

Seven months in orbit. The first breeding of mammals in space. A cosmic garden. And an apple for scientists. China’s astronauts did not return empty-handed. They brought gratitude. And a reminder: science is made by people. Zhang Lu stepped out of the capsule and said: “The whole team must give their all.” Wu Fei spoke of the position of youth. Zhang Hongzhan spoke of the safety and warmth of the motherland. They looked at Earth from space and understood that humanity is one whole. Now they are home. To prepare again for flight. Because space does not wait. And China does not retreat.