Two Chinese astronauts are preparing to depart the Tiangong-2 space lab for the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft, which is ready to return to Earth on Nov. 18. Tiangong-2 will be vacated, left to operate independently.

To ensure a safe landing, air and ground teams have been performing search and rescue exercises in China's northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to reports.

During the 33-day space mission, the two astronauts carried out a range of scientific experiments and logged details of their life in space, including their diet, fitness routine, vegetable cultivation and silkworm breeding.