By 
May 3rd, 2025
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The just returned to Earth Shenzhou-19 crew arrived in Beijing by plane on Wednesday of last week and are now entering a period of medical quarantine and health evaluation.
Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze landed on Wednesday at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said the crew is in good health after living in space for 183 days.
Landing spot change
The mission’s three crew members touched down safely at the Dongfeng landing site, a return that had been postponed by a day due to unfavorable weather conditions on the ground.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
That bad weather did move the planned landing spot for the taikonaut trio from the west zone to the eastern zone of the landing site – a change that meant recovery team members had to quickly scramble to the new location.
Samples back on Earth
The Shenzhou-19 mission generated over 102 samples of 13 types now back on Earth. Studies of samples are expected to produce scientific output in fundamental research, new materials, space radiation effects and hypomagnetic biological mechanisms.
For example, 22 types of experiment samples of space materials are in four categories that include tungsten high entropy alloy, high-strength steel, lunar soil reinforcement material, and gel composite lubricating material.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Twenty of the samples are from life science experiments, and include bone cells and osteoblasts, human bronchial epithelial cells, early embryos of humans and animals, protein samples and fruit flies. This marks the largest variety of biological samples returned to Earth since the Chinese space station began operating in late 2022.
The biologically sensitive samples were rushed to Beijing immediately after the spacecraft touched down at the Dongfeng landing site.
In-orbit exposure
According to China Central Television (CCTV), the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that the studies of experiment samples will promote the production and application of key materials including those for the next-generation aero-engine turbine blades and nano-electronic components.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Additionally, some of the space material samples had undergone in-orbit exposure to help reveal the mechanisms that cause damage to the samples’ microstructures, their performance degradation, as well as functional failure in space.
CCTV adds that statistics show that over 70 percent of the malfunctions of spacecraft were directly or indirectly caused by the space environment.
Space radiation studies
Pei Weiwei is an associate researcher at the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection of Soochow University. After a special handover ceremony was held where scientists received the samples brought back by the Shenzhou-19 space mission, Pei said:
“The carcinogenicity of space radiation has always been a focus of our research, and the epithelial cells of the lungs are the most susceptible to tumors. So we are studying the evolution of lung epithelial cells into tumor cells in space radiation and some of its mechanisms.”
Risk assessment system
Pei added that, based on this data, the aim is to establish a space radiation risk assessment system suitable for Chinese astronauts. “At the same time, we hope to provide some theoretical support for radiation monitoring and a complete radiation protection system,” he told CCTV.
Handover ceremonies between crews.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Pei said that such experiments and related research can also offer new ideas to human health problems back on Earth, such as the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. It will also provide a new theoretical basis and experimental support for exploring health problems such as osteoporosis, muscle atrophy and decreased cardiovascular function, he added.
The recently-arrived Shenzhou-20 crew has now taken over command of the space station.
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Posted in Space News
