Today (Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026), the three 🚀 Shenzhou-20 astronauts were honoured at a ceremony in Beijing, receiving space service medals and the prestigious “Heroic Astronaut” title in recognition of their record-breaking mission.
Commander Chen Dong earned a First-grade Space Service Medal, while flight engineers Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie took home Third-grade medals along with the “Heroic Astronaut” accolade. This shines a spotlight on their incredible feat: over six months in orbit—the longest continuous stay by a single crew to date.
From April to November 2025, the trio worked tirelessly: four spacewalks 🧑🚀, seven cargo-airlock operations, and 120+ equipment installs and upgrades aboard the space station. They also ran cutting-edge scientific experiments and technical tests, adding to the region’s growing footprint in space research.
For Chen Dong, this was his third mission. He’s now logged six spacewalks and more than 400 days in orbit—making him the first Chinese astronaut to hit that milestone. Talk about next-level persistence!
On November 4, 2025, a small crack (likely from space debris) appeared in the Shenzhou-20 capsule’s viewport, delaying their planned return. The crew switched to the Shenzhou-21 vehicle and safely touched down 10 days later. The empty Shenzhou-20 spacecraft itself landed back on Earth on January 19, 2026.
Their achievements showcase China’s accelerating strides in long-duration space missions and spark inspiration for young tech enthusiasts across Asia 🌏. Whether you’re a student coding late nights or building your first app, remember: charting new frontiers takes teamwork, innovation, and a touch of cosmic courage!
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China's Shenzhou-20 crew honored with space service medals and titles
cgtn.com
