Over 60 days after returning to Earth, on January 8, 2025, Shenzhou 18 astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu made their first public appearance. Meeting with media and the public for the first time, the crew shared details of their historic mission. Recently, the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission honored the crew: Ye Guangfu received the “Second-Class Aerospace Merit Medal,” while Li Cong and Li Guangsu were awarded the title of “Heroic Astronaut” along with the “Third-Class Aerospace Merit Medal.”
A Candid Q&A on Life in Orbit
Q: What’s different this time compared to your previous mission?
Ye Guangfu: Having completed a mission before, my body has now formed its own memory.
Q: You’re more experienced than the newcomers—does that give you an edge?
Ye Guangfu: I’m committed to sharing everything openly so they can avoid unnecessary detours and pitfalls.
Q: What does it feel like to work in space?
Ye Guangfu: Looking down, all you see is endless darkness—it feels like staring into an abyss. You really feel weightless; it catches you off guard.
Q: How is it to bring living creatures (like zebrafish) into space?
Ye Guangfu: I was initially worried—whether these little lives could withstand the rocket’s intense vibrations, the launch shock, and the weightless environment.
Q: Was your first space station mission nerve-wracking?
Li Cong: Honestly, I was anxious and tense.
Q: What was the source of your nerves?
Li Cong: I kept worrying, “What if I mess up?”
Q: When did you feel the most challenged up there?
Li Cong: Surprisingly, I really enjoyed those moments. At the start of each month, on major holidays, or even on birthdays, we’d be surprised with little gifts—like unboxing mystery packages together.
Q: What do you miss most from Earth?
Li Cong: Hot pot.
Q: Which family member do you miss the most in space?
Li Cong: I miss my grandmother. She’s 97, and I remember her calling from the launch site during my first mission.
Q: What lingers in your mind the most?
Li Guangsu: The unmistakable taste of space.
Q: How do you unwind in orbit?
Li Guangsu: I simply float around in the module.
Q: Who do you miss most while in space?
Li Guangsu: My two children.
Q: If you had to stay an extra five or ten days, would anything change?
Li Guangsu: I’d actually be happy to extend my time. An extra ten days would push my record past 200 days. Currently, only six astronauts have exceeded 200 days in a single mission. If Li Cong and I join that club, we’d become part of an elite group of eight.
Record-Breaking Mission and New Frontiers
The Shenzhou 18 crew set a new record with a 192-day orbital stay. Commander Ye Guangfu, who previously flew on Shenzhou 13, now holds a cumulative in-orbit record of 375 days—the longest in Chinese spaceflight history to date.
Q: During our last interview, you mentioned looking forward to your next mission. Did that anticipation soon become reality?
Ye Guangfu: Absolutely. After a two-year interval, we set out again. Our previous flight on Shenzhou 13 was conducted in a single-module configuration; this time, we flew with a full, multi-module, all-mission setup, so we had to quickly adapt.
Q: With your experience, do you feel you have an advantage over the newcomers?
Ye Guangfu: Having flown before, I know the environment well. I caution my teammates to avoid unnecessary movements, especially during critical maneuvers. I brief them thoroughly on every detail before the mission—our legacy is passed down from generation to generation. I leave nothing to chance.
In-Orbit Experiments and Fish in Space
In an unprecedented experiment, the Shenzhou 18 crew also conducted a water-based ecological study by raising zebrafish aboard the space station. Four zebrafish were transferred from the orbital module to the station—an experience that surprised everyone during training.
Q: What was it like to have another living creature with you in space?
Ye Guangfu: Initially, I was anxious, wondering if these little fish could handle the violent vibrations of launch and the sudden onset of weightlessness. But once we transferred them into the station and saw them swimming energetically, any worries vanished. They quickly became our companions and comrades.
During the mission, the crew fed the zebrafish a specially formulated paste delivered through a syringe-like system, ensuring a controlled and continuous supply of nutrients. What was meant to be a 30-day experiment extended to 43 days—setting an international record for the longest aquatic ecosystem experiment in space. The project marked a breakthrough in China’s ability to raise vertebrates in orbit.
Extravehicular Activity: Challenges and Triumphs
The crew’s first spacewalk lasted approximately 8.5 hours. Commander Ye Guangfu, along with Li Cong and Li Guangsu, successfully completed tasks that included the installation of debris protection on external modules. This work was critical, especially after previous incidents of micrometeoroid impacts on the space station’s solar arrays.
Q: Which part of the EVA was the most challenging?
Li Cong: Installing the new protective devices was tricky. We had to adapt tools that we’d only ever practiced with on Earth. During one moment, a clamp wouldn’t secure properly on the external radiator, and I almost panicked—but then I adjusted my position and, with guidance from Commander Ye, managed to secure it after a few tries.
Throughout the spacewalk, the astronauts meticulously inspected the station’s exterior using high-definition cameras and specialized equipment. Li Cong remained inside the module, directing and monitoring every step as he effectively became the “eyes” for the spacewalkers.
Li Guangsu added, “Prolonged tasks in the darkened sections of the station were especially daunting. The lack of natural light made everything feel surreal, and every movement required absolute precision.”
Reflections on Space, Home, and the Human Spirit
After completing the mission, the astronauts shared their personal reflections. Li Cong recalled dreaming of a quick return even before landing, while Li Guangsu spoke tenderly about missing his children. In the cramped, high-alert environment of the station, every moment was a test of endurance and mental fortitude.
During their 192 days in orbit, the crew conducted dozens of scientific experiments covering microgravity physics, material science, life sciences, aerospace medicine, and technology development. Each experiment demanded precision, as even the smallest misstep could compromise valuable research.
Q: How do you view your mission in retrospect?
Li Cong: Every experiment and task had to be executed flawlessly. When handling delicate specimens like live cells or fragile mirrors, there’s no room for error. Our work here supports not just current research but paves the way for future deep-space exploration.
For Li Guangsu—a former liberal arts major who had to master technical skills—the experience was both challenging and deeply rewarding. He described his journey as “like a snail determinedly racing toward the stars,” emphasizing that overcoming every difficulty was essential to achieving success.
A Bittersweet Farewell
After a historic five-day “space rendezvous” with the Shenzhou 19 crew on October 30, 2024, the Shenzhou 18 team began their journey back to Earth on November 3, 2024. Emotions ran high during the farewell. Li Cong recalled his captain’s heartfelt send-off before launch, while Li Guangsu admitted that leaving the space station after 192 days evoked a deep, inexplicable sadness.
Li Guangsu: “When I finally stepped away from the core module, I looked back at the station—the place where we lived and worked for so long—and felt a lump in my throat. The intense focus required in space makes every moment on Earth seem even more precious.”
Upon landing at Dongfeng Landing Site on November 4, 2024, the crew began a two-month period of quarantine and rehabilitation. Following a thorough health assessment, they will return to their regular training schedules. Their 192-day sojourn in space remains a shared memory—a testament to human resilience and the groundbreaking spirit of China’s aerospace endeavors.
Looking Back from the Edge of Space
Commander Ye Guangfu summed up the experience: “Flying high above, I saw our blue planet in a way I never imagined. The curve of the Earth, the brilliant arc of sunlight piercing through the station’s windows—it wasn’t just light; it was hope cutting through darkness. In that moment, I realized that while we are small in the vast cosmos, our achievements and our homeland’s greatness are what empower us to reach for the stars.”
This exclusive interview with the Shenzhou 18 crew not only offers a rare glimpse into the technical and emotional challenges of long-duration spaceflight but also celebrates the indomitable human spirit that dares to explore beyond our earthly bounds.
