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.
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Boston Marathon winners hope victories will earn them spot in Paris Olympics
World is not doing enough to protect coral reefs, UN envoy says
Atlantic City mayor and his wife are charged with abusing their 16
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
Dr. Martens stock plunges after dour US revenue outlook
World is not doing enough to protect coral reefs, UN envoy says
Participant, film studio behind 'Spotlight,’ shutters after 20 years
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
British woman, 38, 'is raped by 20