Story highlights

China's Shenzhou-11 spacecraft returns to earth

Two astronauts spent 30 days in orbit, the longest-ever Chinese space mission

Hong Kong CNN  — 

Two Chinese astronauts have successfully returned to Earth after 30 days in space.

Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong have lived and worked in the Tiangong-2 space lab since October 18, the longest stay in space by Chinese astronauts.

The reentry module of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia around 2.15 p.m. Friday local time (01.15 a.m ET), after detaching from the space lab and heading for home Thursday.

JIUQUAN, CHINA - JUNE 11:  (CHINA OUT) The Long March-2F rocket carrying China's manned Shenzhou-10 spacecraft blasts off from launch pad at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on June 11, 2013 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province of China. China's latest manned spacecraft blasted off on a 15-day mission to dock with a space lab.  (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
China launches Tiangong-2 space lab
00:40 - Source: CCTV

Galactic plans

The Tiangong-2, whose name translates as “heavenly vessel,” was launched on September 15 and had unmanned until the astronauts arrived the following month.

The lab is a key part of China’s space program, on which the country has spent billions of dollars, with the eventual aim of launching a Chinese space station into orbit.

China is planning to launch the permanent 20-ton space station before 2024, when the International Space Station (ISS) is retired, according to state news agency Xinhua.

“Tiangong is a precursor testbed of capabilities. Building toward the large space station has always been the culminating goal of the Shenzhou program,” said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor at the Naval War College specializing in space programs and space security.

Plans are also underway to send a robotic probe to Mars, and for a potential manned mission to the moon, which would make China only the second country to visit the lunar surface.

CNN’s Ben Westcott contributed reporting.