Chinese astronauts return from record 210-day mission to former nuclear missile site

China’s Shenzhou-21 crew returned to Earth after a record 210-day stay aboard the Tiangong space station.

The landing in Inner Mongolia came aboard Shenzhou-22, after the crew completed science and biology experiments and tested emergency backup procedures.

China then launched Shenzhou-23 to replace the crew and keep Tiangong’s human missions on schedule.

Officials said the mission supports plans for longer stays and wider international participation in future spaceflight.