The Shenzhou-19 mission, a six-month endeavor aboard China's Tiangong space station, concluded with the safe return of astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze. Their reentry capsule touched down at 1:08 a.m. Eastern (0508 UTC), April 30, in Inner Mongolia.
“At this moment, I feel incredibly proud, happy, and full of anticipation,” said Song, reflecting on his first spaceflight, as reported by China Central Television (CCTV). “We’ve transformed the dedication and hard work of all our researchers into scientific research achievements, and we are very proud of that.” He expressed his gratitude for serving his country and his longing for family.
Mission commander Cai shared his perspective: “In space, we gazed at the beautiful blue planet countless times,” he said. “This is the common home for humanity and needs to be protected by all of us together.” Cai's cumulative time in space now nears 365 days, placing him second among Chinese astronauts.
The Shenzhou-19 crew undocked from Tiangong on April 29 and the landing, originally scheduled earlier, was delayed due to weather conditions. Launched October 29, 2024, the mission involved three extravehicular activities, including a record-breaking spacewalk. The crew conducted various scientific experiments, including life sciences research.
China’s space station, Tiangong, a three-module structure, is planned for continuous operation for at least a decade. Future expansion includes a multi-functional module with six docking ports, potentially opening doors to international collaborations and commercial ventures. A notable partnership is underway with Pakistan, with their astronaut slated to be the first international visitor to Tiangong.