Return capsule carrying Shenzhou-20 crew lands in north China

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-21 spaceship, carrying the Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday.

At 11:14 Beijing Time (0314 GMT), the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship undocked from the space station combination. At 14:49 Beijing time (0649 GMT), the Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued a return command through the ground station, and the orbital capsule of the Shenzhou-21 spaceship separated from the return capsule.

The brake engine then ignited, and the Shenzhou-21 return capsule separated from the propulsion capsule. The return capsule touched down at the Dongfeng landing site at 16:40 Beijing time (0840 GMT), the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said.

The returned astronauts are in good physical condition, according to the medical staff on site.

The Shenzhou-20 crew was sent into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on April 24, 2025.

Their return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns. Tiny cracks were found in the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft's return capsule, which are most probably caused by external impact from space debris, according to the CMSA.

The agency said the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft does not meet the requirements for the astronauts' safe return and will remain in orbit to continue the relevant experiments.

Prior to Friday's return, the crew handed over the space station to the Shenzhou-21 astronauts who got on board on Nov 1.

The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will be launched at an appropriate time in the future, said the CMSA.

Return capsule carrying Shenzhou-20 crew lands in north China

Return capsule carrying Shenzhou-20 crew lands in north China

Return capsule carrying Shenzhou-20 crew lands in north China

Return capsule carrying Shenzhou-20 crew lands in north China

Return capsule carrying Shenzhou-20 crew lands in north China

Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.

"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.

He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.

"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.

"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.

Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival