By Alex 
On April 27, 2025, a historic moment was marked in China’s space exploration journey as the Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 astronaut crews completed a handover ceremony aboard the Chinese Space Station. This event signifies a smooth transition of responsibilities and tasks between the two crews, ensuring the continuity of operations and experiments in space.
Ceremony Details
During the handover ceremony, the Shenzhou-19 astronauts—Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze—officially transferred the keys of the Chinese Space Station to the Shenzhou-20 astronauts—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie. This symbolic act represents the successful completion of the Shenzhou-19 mission and the beginning of the Shenzhou-20 crew’s tenure aboard the space station.
Shenzhou-19 Mission Highlights
The Shenzhou-19 crew has accomplished all their assigned tasks during their mission, which included multiple extravehicular activities (EVAs) and scientific experiments. Notably, they conducted three EVAs and six cargo transfer missions, setting a new world record for the longest single EVA duration at nine hours. The crew also made history with several firsts: Cai Xuzhe became the Chinese astronaut with the most EVAs, Song Lingdong was the first post-90s astronaut to perform an EVA, and Wang Haoze was the first female flight engineer to board the Chinese Space Station.
Shenzhou-20 Mission Outlook
The Shenzhou-20 crew is set to continue the scientific and technical work aboard the space station. Their six-month mission will involve conducting scientific experiments, installing space debris protection devices, retrieving external equipment, and delivering space science lectures to students on Earth via the internet. This mission is part of China’s ongoing efforts to advance space exploration and utilize the space station for various research purposes.
Return of Shenzhou-19 Crew
The Shenzhou-19 crew is scheduled to return to Earth on April 29, 2025, landing at the Dongfeng Landing Site. The landing site and all participating systems are making final preparations to ensure a safe and smooth return for the astronauts.
This handover ceremony not only marks the successful completion of another milestone in China’s space program but also highlights the country’s commitment to continuous space exploration and international cooperation in the field of space science.