Shenzhou-9 prepares for Friday's return

The Shenzhou 9 crew has begun preparations for Friday's return of the manned spacecraft, after more than 2 weeks in space.

Bidding farewell to "the first home for Chinese astronauts in space", crew commander Jin Haipeng carefully examined the hatch that connects Tiangong-1 with Shenzhou-9 before shutting it.

And after 90 minutes of preparation back in the Shenzhou 9. The country's first ever manual separation was successfully completed.

According to meteorological authorities in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, around the Shenzhou-9's scheduled landing zone, weather conditions are expected to be suitable for a safe landing.