China has sent marine research and rescue teams to targeted sea areas for the return of three astronauts returning Earth Friday morning after completing a 13-day manned space docking mission.
The ground search and rescue team has reached a site 18 kilometers away from the "theoretical landing site" of the return capsule that is due to land the three-member crew on Shenzhou-9 spacecraft Friday.
The hatch of the return capsule of Shenzhou-9 had been closed and the spacecraft was ready for return, according to Beijing Aerospace Control Center Friday morning.
Shenzhou IX manned spacecraft will return to the Earth around 10 am Friday, a spokesperson announced Thursday.
Shenzhou IX spacecraft and Tiangong-1 lab module has been successfully separated by manual operation, according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
From sea to space, from orbit to ocean, Chinese skill and technology proved up to the challenge.
First manual docking successful Astronauts re-enter Tiangong-1Docking procedureSpecial coverage
Chinese astronauts will return to Earth in several days after completing the major tasks, and measures have been taken to ensure a safe return.
It is believed that China will be able to train foreign astronauts with its own space technology and send them to space by Shenzhou spacecraft someday.
The arrangements for the Shenzhou X mission will be decided after a full review of the Shenzhou IX mission and status of orbiting Tiangong-1 lab module.
China has planned about 19 billion yuan ($3 billion) in budget for the country's space rendezvous and docking missions.
A spokeswoman of China's manned space program said Sunday the manual space docking was "a complete success", marking an important achievement for the country's docking mission between Shenzhou IX and Tiangong-1 space lab module.
Astronauts aboard the Shenzhou IX spaceship on Sunday afternoon entered the Tiangong-1 lab module again, hours after they successfully completed a manual space docking between the two.
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