Three Chinese astronauts have successfully concluded a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station, marking a significant achievement in China's space exploration efforts. The mission, which began with the launch of Shenzhou XX on April 25, 2025, involved extensive testing of next-generation spacesuits and a broad range of scientific research. During their stay, the astronauts rigorously evaluated two new types of spacesuits, delivered via the Tianzhou 9 cargo spacecraft. These second-generation suits are designed to replace the first-generation models and offer enhanced service life, safety, reliability, and ease of operation, representing a considerable advancement in extravehicular activity (EVA) technology. The new suits are intended for a four-year lifespan, supporting up to 20 spacewalks, an improvement over the previous generation's three-year, 15-spacewalk capacity.
The mission's scientific program included critical research into the effects of the space environment on human cerebrovascular and brain function using advanced chip technology, aiming to identify health risks and develop countermeasures for prolonged space missions. Investigations into bone metabolism and intestinal flora metabolism were also central to their work. Astronaut Chen Dong utilized a Raman spectrometer to analyze urine samples, contributing to the understanding of metabolic processes in microgravity. Additionally, capsule samples were collected to study the influence of respiratory tract microorganisms on respiratory health, with these samples slated for return to Earth for in-depth analysis. The crew also tested spacecraft systems, including monitoring in-cabin micro-organism levels and validating a microbial fuel cell-based wastewater purification system. The replacement of burners for combustion experiments and testing of a track-based composite training device and a dedicated refrigerator within the Tiangong experimental module further highlighted the mission's focus on operational advancement and station maintenance.