[Seoul = CBC News] Three astronauts from China's Shenzhou 21 spacecraft have safely returned to Earth on the 29th (local time) after completing their approximately seven-month (210-day) space mission. This return drew attention as it was carried out using the 'Shenzhou 22' capsule, which was launched unmanned due to concerns over space debris collisions, instead of their originally boarded spacecraft.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, AP, and Reuters, the China Manned Space Agency announced that the Shenzhou 22 return capsule successfully landed at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, northern China, at 8:11 p.m. on the same day. Following the return order from the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center at 7:20 p.m., the orbital module and the return capsule separated before landing safely.

The returned crew consists of three members: commander Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongjiang, all of whom are reported to be in good health. After entering the Tiangong space station on November 1 of last year, they stayed for 210 days, setting a new record for the longest orbital stay by a single Chinese astronaut team.

During their mission, the crew conducted various experiments, including microgravity basic physics, space materials, life sciences, and space medicine. Commander Zhang Lu performed a cumulative total of seven extravehicular activities (EVAs), setting a Chinese record for the most EVAs, and also completed three spacewalks during this mission. Wu Fei, born in 1993, was named the youngest Chinese astronaut to complete a mission. Additionally, the crew successfully completed tasks such as installing space debris protection devices, inspecting the return capsule, and conducting photography missions.

■ An Unusual 'Spacecraft Swap Return' Due to Space Debris Concerns The biggest issue of this mission is the return using a different spacecraft. The originally scheduled Shenzhou 21 returned to Earth earlier with the Shenzhou 20 crew instead, due to the threat of space debris collisions. Consequently, the Shenzhou 21 crew returned aboard the Shenzhou 22 capsule, which was subsequently launched unmanned.

Meanwhile, on the 25th, they completed their handover duties with the Shenzhou 23 crew, which docked with the Tianhe core module of Tiangong. One of the three members of the Shenzhou 23 team—consisting of Li Jiaying, Zhu Yangzhu, and Zhang Zhiyuan—is scheduled to stay aboard the space station for about a year.

AP reported that China independently developed Tiangong after being effectively excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) due to U.S. security concerns. China is accelerating its 'space rise' with the goal of achieving a manned lunar landing by 2030.