The Shenzhou-18 crew, consisting of astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, has successfully concluded their six-month mission aboard China's space station, returning to Earth on Monday.

The return capsule touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 1:24 a.m. local time. The three astronauts exited the capsule by 2:15 a.m. and were reported to be in good health.

The mission was deemed a complete success by the China Manned Space Agency, marking another significant milestone in China's advancing space program.

Commander Ye Guangfu, a veteran taikonaut who previously flew on the Shenzhou-13 mission, has now set a new record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by a Chinese astronaut, exceeding one year in total.

Upon his return, Ye expressed his awe at the rapid developments within China's space activities, anticipating that records for time spent in orbit by Chinese astronauts will soon be surpassed.

Li Cong, a first-time astronaut, highlighted the crew's exceptional teamwork during the mission, which included two successful extravehicular activities (EVAs) and a range of scientific experiments conducted in orbit.

Li noted that the vastness of space offers limitless exploration potential and expressed eagerness to return to it in the future.

Li Guangsu, also completing his inaugural spaceflight, shared the mesmerizing experience of weightlessness and expressed pride in his contributions to China's space endeavors following their capsule exit.

Throughout the 192-day mission, the crew accomplished numerous tasks, including the successful performance of a record-setting EVA that lasted approximately 8.5 hours.

Notable achievements also included installing debris protection devices, conducting cargo deliveries, and maintaining equipment inside and outside the space station.

In collaboration with ground teams, the astronauts engaged in extensive scientific research focused on microgravity physics, space materials science, and biomedicine, among other fields.

A significant highlight of their research involved developing an "aquarium" for zebrafish, which marked the first aquatic ecological study in orbit and offered valuable insights into the biological effects of microgravity.