Chinese astronauts get heroes welcome back

Chinese Capsule Crew back towards earth

Three Chinese astronauts got heroes welcome as returned to Earth after China's most complex and longest mission in orbit. 

Shenzhou-9 capsule hitting the ground

Crew emerges from Capsule

They were hailed as heroes yesterday after taking vital steps in the country's effort to build a space station by 2020. 



They were out in space for 13 days voyage also saw China send a woman into space for the first time.

 The capsule of the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, which means Divine Vessel in Chinese, hit the ground in a remote area of northern China and rolled over yesterday morning after an approach slowed by a large parachute.

The crew members spent another hour inside the capsule while medical workers checked on their conditions, the events broadcast across the nation on state-run television and around the world. 

Chinese Crew waving, giving thumbs up

As the three were finally pulled out still wearing their white space suits, they waved, smiled and gave thumbs up signals, then made patriotic comments for the television audience. 

The history-making female member of the crew, Liu Yang, a 33-year-old air force pilot, was in similarly good spirits, saying she felt "warm and comfortable" throughout the trip.