The Shenzhou XXI astronauts aboard China’s Tiangong space station completed their first spacewalk on Tuesday, the China Manned Space Agency announced.
Mission leader Senior Colonel Zhang Lu and spaceflight engineer Major Wu Fei returned to the Wentian laboratory module at 6:45 p.m. after spending roughly eight hours working outside the station. The third crew member, payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, remained inside Tiangong to offer support.
With assistance from ground teams and the station’s robotic arm, the pair accomplished all planned extravehicular operations, which included mounting debris-protection shields and swapping out aging equipment for newer hardware.
They also inspected and photographed the windows of the Shenzhou XX reentry capsule. One window had been struck by a tiny fragment of orbital debris, an incident that caused the Shenzhou XX crew’s return to be postponed, according to the agency.
This EVA marked the 25th such operation performed by Chinese astronauts. At 32 years old, Wu became the youngest Chinese taikonaut to carry out a spacewalk, surpassing Lieutenant Colonel Tang Shengjie, who previously held the record after performing his first EVA at age 34.
The Shenzhou XXI mission represents China’s 16th crewed spaceflight and the 10th group of long-duration occupants living aboard Tiangong, currently the world’s only space station operated solely by one nation.
The trio has been on the large orbital complex for nearly 40 days since their arrival on Nov. 1, during which they have inspected equipment, conducted routine maintenance, reviewed emergency resources, and practiced emergency procedures and robotic-arm operations.
The agency noted that the astronauts are scheduled to conduct more spacewalks and scientific activities, and if conditions allow they may attempt to repair the damaged viewing window on the Shenzhou XX spacecraft.
