Chinese Astronauts Return to Earth after Longest Mission
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - China's Shenzhou-11 spacecraft returned to earth Friday, bringing home two astronauts from the rising power's longest-ever orbital mission.
China's state broadcaster CCTV showed the return capsule's separation from the Tiangong-2 space lab 393 kilometers (244 miles) above the earth, and its descent through the atmosphere to its landing on the grassland of Inner Mongolia.
After it landed, ground personnel rushed to plant two flapping red flags beside the capsule while observers applauded in China's mission control, AFP reported.
The manned space program's commander in chief Zhang Youxia announced that the mission was a "complete success".
Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong spent the 33-day mission orbiting the earth carrying out experiments including cultivating silkworms, growing lettuce, and testing brain activity.
Beijing is pouring billions into its space program in a bid to catch up with the US and Europe.
China announced in April that it aims to send a spacecraft "around 2020" to orbit Mars, then land and deploy a rover to explore the Red Planet's surface.
