China's Shenzhou-16 astronauts ready to return after in-orbit crew handover

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 26, 2023 shows the Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 crew posing for a group photo inside China's space station. (Photo by Han Qiyang/Xinhua)

JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-16 taikonauts handed over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou-17 crew on Sunday, said the China Manned Space Agency.

The two crews held a handover ceremony after the Shenzhou-16 taikonauts had completed all set tasks. They are due to return to Earth on Oct. 31 aboard the Shenzhou-16 spaceship.

The Dongfeng Landing Site, located in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is preparing for the return of Shenzhou-16 from space.

This will be the fifth mission the landing site has conducted to recover a manned spacecraft and the crew.

Ground personnel have undergone various search and rescue exercises for the upcoming mission, the landing site said.