In a remarkable feat of endurance and teamwork, two Chinese astronauts have rewritten spacewalk history by achieving a record-breaking extravehicular activity (EVA) at the Tiangong space station.
Astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, members of the Shenzhou 19 mission, embarked on the longest spacewalk in China’s aerospace history, spending over nine hours outside the nation’s Tiangong space station. This milestone surpassed the previous record held by NASA astronauts in 2001, when James Voss and Susan Helms completed an EVA lasting eight hours and 56 minutes. The Shenzhou 19 mission team arrived at the Tiangong space station on October 29 for a six-month mission, beginning their ambitious spacewalk late on December 16 and concluding it the following morning.
The maneuver, which was supported by fellow astronaut Wang Haoze from within the space station, along with the station’s robotic arm and ground researchers, required meticulous precision. During this period, Cai and Song successfully installed a space debris protection device and conducted essential equipment inspections and maintenance tasks. CMSEO (China’s Manned Space Engineering Office) confirmed the operation’s success through a WeChat update, praising the astronauts’ exceptional coordination and effort.
Song Lingdong also achieved personal recognition by becoming the first Chinese astronaut born in the 1990s to conduct an extravehicular mission. The spacewalk represents the latest installment in China’s growing series of successful space endeavors, marking the 17th EVA conducted outside the Tiangong station. The station itself has evolved since the core module, Tianhe, was launched into orbit in April 2021, with the completion of its T-shaped configuration achieved through subsequent modules, Wentian and Mengtian.
Beginning at 11:51 p.m. EDT on December 16, Cai exited the Wentian module, with Song following at 1:32 a.m. EDT. Both astronauts completed their pioneering task by returning to the module at 8:57 a.m. EDT the next day, thus setting the new duration record at nine hours and six minutes. Such achievements underscore the progress and ambitions of China’s space program, as they continue to enhance their capabilities for future exploration. CMSEO’s updates have been a source of detailed insight into these accomplishments, shared across platforms like WeChat.
The recent record-breaking spacewalk by Chinese astronauts at the Tiangong space station is a testament to their growing expertise in space exploration. Their success not only highlights the technological advancements and collaborative efforts within China’s space program but also paves the way for future missions and achievements beyond Earth.
Source: Space
