China's Shenzhou-19 manned spaceship separated from the space station combination at 04:00 (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, marking the start of the crew's return journey back to Earth, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The spaceship is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Wednesday
The CMSA said that prior to the separation, the Shenzhou-19 crew -- Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze -- completed various tasks such as setting the status of the space station combination, processing and transmitting the experimental data, and transferring remaining supplies with the assistance of the ground staff. The Shenzhou-19 crew also carried out handover work and exchanged in-orbit work experience with the Shenzhou-20 crew.
The return of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship, originally scheduled for Tuesday, had been postponed due to unfavorable windy weather at the Dongfeng landing site, according to the CMSA.
The agency added that the meteorological conditions at the Dongfeng landing site meet the mission requirements at present, and all preparations have been made to welcome the crew's return.
China launched the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship on April 24, sending three astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie to the space station for another six-month mission.
Shenzhou-19 spaceship separates from space station combination
Shenzhou-19 spaceship separates from space station combination
Shenzhou-19 spaceship separates from space station combination
