China’s Shenzhou-18 spacecraft has made a spectacular return to Earth, successfully concluding a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station.

The crew, made up of astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, detached from the space station before experiencing a fiery re-entry, during which the propulsion module broke apart.

Despite this intense descent, the crew landed safely in the Dongfeng area, near the Jiuquan spaceport, around 12:00 p.m. EST.

The Shenzhou-18 mission was distinguished by its numerous scientific contributions, including groundbreaking microgravity experiments and a series of spacewalks.

Astronauts have conducted research on ancient microbes and other biological studies that should improve our understanding of life in space. Ye Guangfu notably achieved an important milestone by becoming the first Chinese astronaut to spend more than 365 days in space during several missions.

As the capsule descended through the atmosphere, bright flames were visible upon its return, a reminder of the challenges of space travel. The disintegration of the propulsion module raised concerns but did not affect the safety of the crew or their capsule.

Recovery teams were on standby and used advanced infrared thermal imaging technology to locate and assist the landing astronauts.

After leaving the capsule, the astronauts were greeted by cheering recovery teams and quickly transported to Beijing for a thorough debriefing. Their successful return shows China’s growing capabilities in human spaceflight and its commitment to advancing scientific research in low Earth orbit.

This arrival comes a few days after the arrival of the Shenzhou-19 crew at the Chinese station for a six-month mission.