Three astronauts aboard China’s Shenzhou-20 mission have successfully entered the China Space Station, initiating a historic in-orbit crew handover with the Shenzhou-19 team.
The Shenzhou-19 crew opened the hatch at 1:17 a.m. Beijing Time to welcome the new arrivals, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). This marks the sixth time astronauts have met in orbit in China’s aerospace history.
All six crew members gathered for group photos, symbolizing the collaborative spirit of China’s growing space endeavors. Over the next five days, they will live and work together, completing planned tasks and transferring responsibilities.
The Shenzhou-19 crew is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 29. Their safe return will conclude another successful chapter in China’s ambitious space program.
