Three Chinese astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze, returned to Earth on Wednesday after a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station. Their landing in Inner Mongolia was delayed a day due to weather. The crew conducted experiments, including a record-breaking nine-hour spacewalk, and transferred control of the station to a newly arrived crew. This mission highlights China's growing space capabilities, independent of the International Space Station, with ambitions including a crewed lunar landing before 2030.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.