Shenzhou VI touches down; astronauts in good conditions
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-10-17 05:23

Two astronauts on China's second manned space flight landed before dawn Monday after a five-day flight.

Astronaut Nie Haisheng (R) talks to journalists after he and Fei Junlong got out of the re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou VI spacecaft at the main landing field in Central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Monday morning October 17, 2005. The module landed 4:33 A.M. after a five-day flight.

The re-entry capsule of Shenzhou VI and astronauts Fei Junlong, Nie Haisheng touched down in the main landing field in Central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 4:33 A.M. Monday after a five-day flight.

The astronauts climbing out of their kettle-shaped capsule with the help of two technicians and clambering down a ladder in the predawn darkness. They smiled, waved to cheering members of the ground crew, accepted bouquets of flowers and sat in a pair of metal chairs beside the capsule.

The two said they were in good conditions when answering questions from journalists.

"I want to thank the people for their love and care. Thank you very much," Fei said.

After a snack of noodles, tea and chocolate, Fei and Nie set off by helicopter for a local airport before going to Beijing.

At 9:30 a.m. the two astronauts arrived at an airport at western Beijing, getting heroic welcome.

The re-entry capsule landed one kilometer away from target, and six kilometers from the Shenzhou V landing site, Xinhua said.