China's Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship separated from the space station combination at 08:43 (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The three astronauts aboard, Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, have lived and worked in the space station complex for six months and are now beginning their return journey to Earth.
Prior to the separation, the crew completed all planned tasks and handover work with the Shenzhou-18 astronauts who arrived at the Tiangong space station in the early hours of Friday, the CMSA said.
The Shenzhou-17 crew is scheduled to touch down at the Dongfeng Landing Site, located in the Gobi Desert in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where search and retrieval teams are standing by.
China's Shenzhou-17 separates from space station combination, starts journey home
China's Shenzhou-17 separates from space station combination, starts journey home
China's Shenzhou-17 separates from space station combination, starts journey home
Heavy fighting continues to rage in the northern Gaza city of Jabaliya, where the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their offensive against a regrouped Hamas, prompting civilian evacuations amidst ongoing rocket attacks.
The situation remains highly volatile, marked by fierce street battles, ongoing Israeli air and artillery strikes, with no immediate end to the fighting in sight, according to Martin Lowe, a correspondent for China Global Television Network (CGTN), who on Thursday witnessed the intense clashes from the Israeli city of Sderot, located near the Gaza border.
"In the distance, the city of Jabalia, face-to-face fighting is taking place in the city streets. Israeli air and artillery strikes are continuing. Tanks are advancing to the central area. The Israeli Defense Forces announced they had total operational control in northern Gaza in January. But as the troops left, the IDF says Hamas has regrouped," said Lowe.
"The IDF is now trying to evacuate up to 150,000 civilians because the fighting is so fierce. Hamas may be under pressure, but it's still fighting. Multiple rocket attacks have been launched back at Israel from Jabalia, while battles continue inside the city itself," he continued.
Israel intensifies offensive against regrouped Hamas in northern Gaza city
