China's 1st space station crew to return to Earth on Friday - Space.com

Astronauts Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo have spent 90 days aboard China's Tianhe space station module since arriving aboard Shenzhou 12 on June 17.

Related: China's Shenzhou 12 astronauts send back stunning images of Earth.

More: China's Tiangong space station.

While in orbit the Shenzhou 12 astronauts have completed two extravehicular activities (EVAs), or spacewalks, to prepare Tianhe for future arrivals, carried out a range of experiments and sent back stunning images of Earth.

Before returning home, the Shenzhou 12 astronauts will circumnavigate Tianhe in their capsule and test a radial rendezvous, by undocking from the module and approaching Tianhe from below, rather than along its flight path. .

Tianzhou 3 will deliver supplies for the next crewed mission to the station, Shenzhou 13, which is set to launch from Jiuquan in October!

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