China’s Shenzhou-19 Astronauts Complete Handover, Returning to Earth on Tuesday

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 21, 2025 shows Shenzhou-19 astronauts Cai Xuzhe (R) and Song Lingdong preparing for extravehicular activities inside the airlock cabin of China's orbiting space station. (Photo/Xinhua)

Jiuquan - The crew of China's Shenzhou-19 spacecraft held a handover ceremony with the Shenzhou-20 crew and transferred the keys of the country's space station to the latter on Sunday.

The Shenzhou-19 crew has now completed all planned tasks. The three astronauts will take the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 29, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The crew of Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 manned spaceships talking with each other. (Photo/Xinhua)

At present, final preparations are in full swing across all participating systems and the landing site in readiness to welcome the trio back.