China's manned spacecraft detaches from Tiangong-2 space lab

Posted 2021-04-27 CCTV+

China’s manned spacecraft Shenzhou-11 detached from the Tiangong-2 space lab at 12:41 (Beijing time) on Thursday after two Chinese astronauts completed a record-breaking 30 days in space. 

Prior to the detachment, the two astronauts, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong, thoroughly checked the condition of the Shenzhou-11 re-entry capsule which will return them to Earth. They then transferred experimental devices and items from Tiangong-2 to the re-entry capsule before departure. 

Following its detachment from Tiangong-2, the Shenzhou-11 craft will move to a location 120 meters away from the space lab where it will stay in orbit until its status is confirmed to begin the re-entry process. 

The spacecraft is expected to return from a trajectory of 393 kilometers above the earth on Friday and will touch down in the Siziwang Banner in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.