Welcome home, Shenzhou XI

Helicopters are ready to welcome the two astronauts back to the Earth. [Photo/Xinhua]

3. Ground work

It is the first time that a manned spacecraft will land in winter. The teams have to help astronauts out of the spacecraft within half hour after landing.

Drones will be used to locate the astronauts for the first time. They will be joined by fixed-wing planes and helicopters to cover large areas at different heights in the sky.

Eight helicopters, the most in manned missions so far, will be used in the search.