The Shenzhou-16 mission marks the fifth manned mission to the Tiangong space station since its launch in 2021. The crew of the Shenzhou-16 will replace the three-member crew of the Shenzhou-15, who have been stationed at the space station since November 2022.
The departing Shenzhou 16 astronauts handed over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou 17 crew during a short ceremony on Sunday (Oct. 29).
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 16 mission returned to Earth on Monday (Oct. 30) after a five-month stint aboard the country's Tiangong space station.