Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng sent today a congratulatory message to the Central People's Government on the successful return to Earth of the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft crew, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS).
On behalf of the local government, Ho expressed his warmest congratulations to the whole nation on the successful completion of the three-crew space mission. He also expressed his greatest admiration for the three astronauts – Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu – as well as for the scientists and others involved in the mission.
Ho stressed in his message that Shenzhou-13 was a significant flight mission in terms of testing critical techniques necessary for the country’s space station. The three astronauts lived and worked in the space station for a record 183 days – the longest-ever duration of an in-orbit stay of the country's manned space programme.
Thanks to the support by scientists on the ground, the astronauts completed two extravehicular activities, as well as a raft of scientific and technological experiments and application projects. Additionally, between those missions, the astronauts conducted two live scientific lectures in which Macau students participated. Macau students not only have become more knowledgeable about science and aerospace, but also have been infused with a growing sense of patriotism, Ho underlined.
The success of the Shenzhou-13 crewed spacecraft mission marks a new phase of development in the construction of the country’s first space station. People in Macau are very proud to witness the leapfrog development in the country’s aerospace engineering capabilities. Besides, the spirit displayed by the three astronauts will inspire further advances in Macau’s overall development, Ho emphasised in his congratulatory message.
Caption: Astronaut Wang Yaping waves on her arrival in Beijing today. The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-13 crewed spaceship have completed their six-month space station mission and returned to Earth safely on Saturday. Shenzhou-13's return capsule, carrying Wang, Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:56 a.m. today. The three-member crew arrived in Beijing by plane this afternoon. – Xinhua
