China's Dongfeng Landing Site prepares to welcome Shenzhou 17 astronauts home

According to the plan, the astronaut crew of Shenzhou 17 will return to the Dongfeng Landing Site on April 30, 2024 after completing the in-orbit rotation with the astronaut crew of Shenzhou 18.

This afternoon, the Dongfeng Landing Field organized and completed the last full-system comprehensive drill of the Shenzhou 17 search, rescue and recovery mission in accordance with the full system, full status, and full process, fully simulating the technical status and work processes of air search and rescue, ground disposal, measurement, communications and other equipment. This is the sixth time that Dongfeng Landing Field has carried out a manned spacecraft return search and astronaut rescue mission. According to reports, the mission spacecraft adopted a 5-turn rapid return plan and went through 4 stages: braking deorbiting, free taxiing, re-entry into the atmosphere, and parachute landing. The entire return and landing process took about 50 minutes.