Shenzhou-21 crew completes eight-hour spacewalk outside China's Tiangong Space Station, performing installation tasks, inspections and maintenance as part of ongoing on-orbit mission operations.
Mission Commander Zhang Lu and Space Flight Engineer Wu Fei left the station, to install additional debris protection devices and replace external equipment, while payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang supported the operation from inside the orbital complex. The spacewalk focused on increasing the station's resilience to the increasing density of orbital debris in low Earth orbit and ensuring long-term operational safety.
During the spacewalk, the astronauts inspected and photographed the windows of the Shenzhou launch vehicle module. The review took place after previous damage, impact-related small fragments of debris, which previously delayed the return of the crew.
This exit was the 25th exit into outer space, carried out by Chinese astronauts since the beginning of the country's manned space flight program. IN 32 years Wu Fei became the youngest Chinese astronaut, who performed extra-ship activities, which marked an important milestone in the history of China's astronaut generation, which expands to support the continuous operation of the station.
China's Tiangong Space Station, the construction of which was completed in 2022 year, consists of the Tianhe main module and two laboratory modules, Vientiane and Mentian. The station is designed for continuous operation and is supported by a crew, who alternates, conducts scientific research, technology demonstrations and maintenance. A growing portfolio of microgravity physics experiments have been conducted at Tiangong Station since full commissioning, life sciences, materials science and Earth observation.
Recent missions have increasingly emphasized routine maintenance and system upgrades, rather than at the initial construction, reflecting the transition from assembly to long-term use. Regular spacewalks (EVA) are now a planned part of station operations and are used to establish shielding, modernization of external payloads and inspection of critical systems, exposed to the space environment.
The crew of "Shenzhou-21" arrived at the Tiangong station in early November and spent almost forty days there. In addition to performing maintenance tasks, the crew continues to conduct scientific experiments and training activities to support future missions and test procedures for long-term human presence in orbit.
China's manned space program has outlined plans to operate Tiangong for at least a decade, with regular crew rotation and cargo replenishment missions. Officials also expressed openness to international scientific cooperation aboard the station, positioning Tiangong as a long-term platform for microgravity research, as the International Space Station approaches the later stages of its operational life.
Additional spacewalks may be conducted during the Shenzhou-21 mission, if necessary, depending on inspection results and operational needs. The spacewalk underscores China's growing emphasis on station sustainability, crew safety and operational maturity, as the country strengthens its role as a permanent human presence in low Earth orbit.
Source: https://www.spacedaily.com