Special blessings sent from Tiangong Space Station to celebrate National Day; next crew scheduled for late October

To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Shenzhou-18 crew sent special blessings from space on Tuesday. 

The Shenzhou-18 crew, who have been on duty at the Tiangong Space Station for more than five months, will welcome the arrival of Shenzhou-19 for the fifth in-orbit crew rotation by late October, the China Manned Space Agency said on Tuesday.

Mission commander Ye Guangfu and crew members Li Cong and Li Guangsu entered the Chinese space station on April 26. In celebration of the National Day, they participated in a live broadcast from the Tianhe core module, delivering their heartfelt wishes to the nation and the people, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.

Ye, who has spent a cumulative 340 days in the space during his taikonaut career, said he was immensely proud of the great achievements China has made in the aerospace field. "The Tiangong Space Station represents decades of effort by generations of space workers. It is a symbol of China's modern advancements and a testament to our nation's strength in the new era."

Li Cong and Li Guangsu, both first-time space travelers, said they feel fortunate to be living in such a great era. They expressed their sincere gratitude to the countless scientists and engineers who have worked tirelessly to support their space life, and reaffirmed their commitment to completing the mission successfully. 

"We wish our great motherland prosperity and happiness as well as well-being for all its people," the three taikonauts concluded.

During the live broadcast, the Shenzhou-18 crew also shared updates on a key research project, the most popular one that has attracted widespread attention - the experiment of raising fish in space. It marks China's first in-orbit aquatic ecosystem research project. 

"We have carefully observed the growing status of zebrafish who have accompanied us for several months. According to mission plan, we will conduct over 90 scientific experiments related to zebrafish cultivation. So far, all tasks are progressing smoothly," Li Guangsu detailed the experiment to the audience. 

During the National Day holidays, the Shenzhou-18 crew will maintain a regular schedule, balancing work and rest. Much of their time will be dedicated to ongoing scientific experiments, data collection, and the maintenance of the space station's life-support systems. 

They are also preparing for the arrival of the Shenzhou-19 crew, organizing supplies and equipment in anticipation of in-orbit crew handover aboard the Chinese space station.

According to the China Manned Space Agency, China plans to launch the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft later this month, paving the way for Shenzhou-18 crew's return. After more than six months in space, the Shenzhou-18 astronauts will soon complete their mission and embark on their journey home.