BEIJING (AP) — China’s Shenzhou-17 spacecraft returned to Earth Tuesday, carrying three astronauts who have completed a six-month mission aboard the country’s orbiting space station.
The three, Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, landed at the Dongfeng site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the Gobi desert shortly before 6:00 p.m. (1000 GMT). It comes roughly four days after the Shenzhou-18 mission docked with the station with their three-member replacement crew onboard.
China built its own space station after being excluded from the International Space Station, largely because of U.S. concerns over the Chinese military’s total control of the space program amid a sharpening competition in technology between the two geopolitical rivals. This year, the Chinese station is slated for two cargo spacecraft missions and two manned spaceflight missions.
Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a cease
Three cheers for the King! Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is a vision in green as King Willem
Iraqi authorities are investigating the killing of a social media influencer
Mystery artist who erected signs comparing pothole
'Controlling' husband who stabbed his 19
Doja Cat SLAMS parents taking their children to her racy shows in expletive
Freight train derailment, fire forces Interstate 40 closure near Arizona
Channel 4 is set to make major change to Gogglebox 11 years after the show began
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Ober stays hot, Santana homers to help Twins beat Angels 5