The three astronauts aboard Shenzhou-20 -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- have quickly adapted to life in microgravity and accomplished various tasks since entering China's Tiangong space station on April 25.
During the in-orbit crew transition, the Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 teams conducted a comprehensive handover, including the flight system configurations, updates on onboard supplies, and the operational handover.
The new crew assisted in organizing and packing outgoing items, and after Shenzhou-19's departure, they reset equipment and reorganized materials across various station modules.
In a major task, the crew installed a debris shield on the radial hatch of the core module's node cabin, an upgrade which helps protect the hatch from impacts of tiny space debris.
In the field of space life sciences, the experiment studying microgravity and space radiation effects on planarian regeneration is proceeding as planned. It is the country' first planarian regeneration experiment in space.
In the Wentian lab module, the astronauts have monitored samples placed within the biotechnology experiment cabinet and utilized the onboard scientific glovebox to collect solid culture samples. These activities will support ongoing research into how microgravity affects microbial behavior and cellular tissue growth.
In the area of space medicine, the crew transferred cell experiment units to the medical sample preparation unit within the human system research cabinet, which will support investigations into cell growth, differentiation, and functional changes under microgravity.
In a notable first, the crew conducted an in-orbit medical rescue training session. The exercise helped them understand how emergency care differs in microgravity, including how to apply force in weightless conditions.
The crew also carried out checks and maintenance of a range of critical systems, including the regenerative life support unit, the water dispenser, and the space treadmill.
In terms of space station management, they have cleaned the cabin and organized supplies sent from Earth.
They have also undergone a series of health checks, including hearing tests, ultrasounds, and electrocardiogram monitoring and blood pressure monitoring, while keeping up with regular physical exercises to counteract the effects of weightlessness. The data gathered from these tests helps ground researchers keep a close watch on the astronauts' health while they are in orbit.
In addition to scientific work and emergency drills, the astronauts carried out regular inspections and maintenance of three extravehicular spacesuits. They also checked and adjusted various pieces of equipment onboard.
After nearly a month in orbit, the Shenzhou-20 crew remains in good spirit and health, with mission tasks progressing smoothly.
On Thursday, the crew completed their first series of extravehicular activities, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Shenzhou-20 crew accomplishes various tasks
From cutting-edge technology exhibitions to retail stores thousands of kilometers away from Europe and Southeast Asia, China-made robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly becoming a popular choice among consumers worldwide.
At electronics retailers in Berlin, Germany, Chinese brands such as Roborock and Dreame occupy prominent positions in dedicated robot vacuum sections, offering a wide range of products priced between 200 and 2,000 euros.
Many local consumers said that when purchasing smart home appliances including robot vacuum cleaners, they tend to give priority to Chinese-made products.
"It's a good price and good quality. It's also the innovation. I have a feeling that the European brands are not innovating enough," said one customer.
"I think they're always on top of the other technologies. They are getting them out faster. A lot of us are switching to the Chinese technology," another consumer said.
Germany is one of the most important overseas markets for China's floor-cleaning robots.
According to data from market research firm GfK, from January to November 2025, more than six out of 10 robot vacuum cleaners sold in Western Europe were Chinese brands.
Industry data also point to a strong global momentum.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of smart robot vacuum cleaners reached 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent.
Chinese brands including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal ranked among the world's top five in terms of shipment volume, with a combined share of nearly 70 percent of the global market.
At a robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, workers were seen stepping up production of newly launched models that recently debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The factory adjusted its production lines as early as December 2025 and stocked inventory in advance for overseas markets to ensure that new products could be delivered to global consumers at the earliest possible time.
"In 2025, Roborock's global shipments exceeded 7.2 million units. Since 2024, overseas revenue has accounted for more than 50 percent of our total revenue. Our products have now been sold to more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 20 million households worldwide," said Quan Gang, president of Roborock.
At another robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong, rising overseas orders have prompted the company to upgrade its production lines with intelligent technologies to further boost capacity. The factory is currently operating at full load to meet a growing demand.
"For 2026, we have already obtained overseas orders worth at least 300 million to 400 million yuan (around 43 million to 57.3 million U.S. dollars). In addition, we've engaged in strategic cooperation with European home appliance group Cebos Group, and our total confirmed orders have exceeded 600 million yuan (around 86 million U.S. dollars)," said Zhang Junbin, founder and CEO of Narwal Robotics.
Chinese robot vacuum brands gain strong global traction
