Shenzhou XVII Crew Shares Post-Mission Insights with Media

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 08, 2024 - The astronauts of China's Shenzhou XVII mission held their first press conference on Friday, two months after returning from their space expedition.

The three crew members - Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin - are reported to be in excellent physical and mental condition. Their muscle strength, endurance, and cardiopulmonary function have largely returned to pre-flight levels.

The Shenzhou XVII spaceship was launched on October 26, 2023, and the crew returned on April 30, 2024, after spending 187 days in orbit, setting a new record for China's manned space missions.

Throughout the mission, the astronauts conducted 84 space application experiments and tests, resulting in over 200 samples across various fields.

This mission marked Commander Tang Hongbo's second visit to the space station, making him the Chinese astronaut with the most extended spaceflight duration. "I am honored to witness and participate in the remarkable advancements of China's manned spaceflights," he said at the press conference at the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing.

Tang Shengjie, who became the youngest astronaut to enter China's space station and celebrated his 34th birthday in orbit, expressed his eagerness to return to space following additional training. "I would undergo follow-up training and strive for an early return to space," he said.

The crew also completed two spacewalks, including China's first extravehicular maintenance task. Jiang Xinlin shared details of these activities, noting that the comprehensive training they underwent contributed to the smooth execution of the tasks.

The Astronaut Center of China stated that the crew would resume regular training once they have cleared all health and wellbeing assessments.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article