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dpa
Beijing
Three Chinese astronauts have started their return journey to Earth from the Tiangong space station, which is under construction.
The Shenzhou-12 spacecraft (“magic ship”) carrying taikonauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo undocked from the core module “Tianhe” of the station ahead of their return journey, Chinese state media reported.
State broadcaster CCTV spoke of “the last day before the official landing mission,” which indicated that the astronauts are expected to return to Earth on Friday.
The capsule is supposed to touch down in Inner Mongolia in northern China.
A search and rescue team was ready on Thursday. However, no time for the return has been officially announced.
The Chinese astronauts spent around three months in space, China’s longest manned space mission to date.
The launch of a rocket with additional cargo for the new station was prepared on Thursday at the Wenchang spaceport on the southern Chinese island of Hainan.
Afterwards, a new crew is to be flown to the space station in the next few weeks, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.
Beijing
Three Chinese astronauts have started their return journey to Earth from the Tiangong space station, which is under construction.
The Shenzhou-12 spacecraft (“magic ship”) carrying taikonauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo undocked from the core module “Tianhe” of the station ahead of their return journey, Chinese state media reported.
State broadcaster CCTV spoke of “the last day before the official landing mission,” which indicated that the astronauts are expected to return to Earth on Friday.
The capsule is supposed to touch down in Inner Mongolia in northern China.
A search and rescue team was ready on Thursday. However, no time for the return has been officially announced.
The Chinese astronauts spent around three months in space, China’s longest manned space mission to date.
The launch of a rocket with additional cargo for the new station was prepared on Thursday at the Wenchang spaceport on the southern Chinese island of Hainan.
Afterwards, a new crew is to be flown to the space station in the next few weeks, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.
