Sharing the Long Journey
The six-month stay for Chinese astronauts in the Tiangong space station has just ended. Before they returned to the earth, they faced one last test—returning home safely. What had they done before they left the station?
To go home after a long journey, you have to pack up. Besides their personal things, astronauts also need to bring home experimental data and samples (资料和样品) for further research on Earth.
The three astronauts also needed to clean "the house". They must collect leftover food and the waste. The waste was put into the orbital module (轨道舱). It burned up as it enters Earth'satmosphere (大气层).
The astronauts must also put equipment (设备) back in place. They needed to make sure that things like gym equipment are fixed to the walls for safety.
Astronauts experience microgravity (微重力) for long periods of time. This affects their bodies. The three astronauts did physical exercises to keep strong. Experts made exercise plans for each of them to land safely.
Tiangong space station will be completed before the end of this year. Other astronauts will be sent there for further tasks.
