China's Shenzhou-21 astronauts share highlights from 210-day mission

The three Shenzhou-21 astronauts made their first public appearance on Tuesday, sharing highlights from their record-setting 210-day stay aboard China's Tiangong space station.

Commander Zhang Lu, spaceflight engineer Wu Fei and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang met the media in Beijing, reflecting on a mission that set several milestones, including the first delayed spacecraft return caused by a space debris, the first astronaut crew to return aboard a replacement spacecraft and the first emergency spacecraft launch.

During their 210 days in orbit, the crew conducted three spacewalks, installed debris protection devices, performed multiple cargo transfer operations, carried out scientific experiments and cultivated more than 10 kinds of plants, including chery tomatoes and wheat grown using aeroponic technology, in a "space garden." 

Working closely with ground teams, the crew also conducted experiments in microgravity physics, space materials, life sciences, aerospace medicine and space technologies.

Zhang Lu, who now holds the record for the most spacewalks by a Chinese astronaut, brought back a sentimental token: an apple marked with the characters for "peace and safety," a wish he carried for his crew and all Chinese space workers.

Payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang highlighted the first closed-environment breeding of mice in space, a step toward future mammalian research in microgravity. He also shared how reading classical poetry and practicing Tai Chi helped him stay grounded for the long mission, and encouraged young people to keep learning. 

Wu Fei, the youngest Chinese astronaut to fly a space mission, described his experience as "tempering" and "coming back home" to the equipment he helped design as an engineer – the Tianhe core module and Wentian laboratory module. 

All three astronauts have recovered well, the China Astronaut Research and Training Center said. Their fitness levels have largely returned to pre-flight levels and are expected to get back to training soon.