The three astronauts from China's Shenzhou-21 manned mission met with the media in Beijing, the Chinese capital marking their first public appearance since returning to Earth in May this year.
Astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang are in good physical and mental condition, with muscle strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness largely restored to pre-flight levels, the press conference announced. They are now entering a recovery observation phase and will resume regular training after a final health evaluation.
The Shenzhou-21 crew spent 210 days in orbit, from their launch on October 31, 2025, to their return on May 29, 2026, setting a new record for the longest single-crew stay by Chinese astronauts.
During the mission, they completed three spacewalks and conducted extensive space science experiments, most notably witnessing and participating in the first in-orbit emergency rescue operation in the history of China's manned space program.
"The emergency response system of China's manned space program has successfully passed real-world tests during our stay," said Zhang Lu, the mission commander. "From dealing with the impact of space debris on the spacecraft, adjusting our orbital schedule and replacing the return vehicle, to conducting an emergency launch, the entire system operated smoothly to ensure our safety."
Zhang said what impressed him most was the calm confidence, scientific spirit, and unwavering teamwork of the Chinese space sector.
Zhang has completed seven spacewalks across two missions, Shenzhou-15 and Shenzhou-21, making him the most experienced spacewalker in Chinese history.
Wu Fei, who previously contributed to the development of the Tianhe core module and the Wentian laboratory module, said that operating equipment in orbit that he had previously tested on Earth gave him a sense of familiarity. "All the experience accumulated from my work on Earth transformed into the confidence and calmness I need for precise operations and reliable judgment in space," Wu said.
Payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang shared several scientific breakthroughs achieved during the mission, including China's first successful aeroponic cultivation of cherry tomatoes and wheat in orbit, the first closed-system mouse breeding in space, and validation of key technologies for efficient spectrum and water-fertilizer utilization.
Despite the busy research schedule, the crew cultivated more than 10 kinds of crops, including wheat, sunflowers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and mint, which not only helped refine cultivation techniques in orbit but also brought joy to their intensive life in space.
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