Chinese astronauts added extra particles shielding to the Tiangong area station throughout a 6.5-hour spacewalk on Friday (Aug. 15), in response to state media.
Two astronauts from the three-person Shenzhou 20 mission ventured outdoors Tiangong to do the spacewalk, which concluded Friday at 9:27 a.m. EDT (1447 UTC, or 10:47 p.m. in Beijing). It was no less than the second effort for the crew to place “debris protection” units on the three-module area station, following comparable work on May 22.
Taikonauts Chen Dong and Wang Jie additionally inspected and maintained gear on the outside of Tiangong, amongst different duties, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) mentioned, according to the state-run broadcaster CCTV.
It was Dong’s sixth spacewalk — probably the most by any Chinese astronaut, CMSA officers mentioned. Assisting the duo from inside Tiangong was Chen Zhongrui, the opposite member of Shenzhou 20.
The Shenzhou 20 astronauts are greater than midway by their anticipated six-month orbital keep, after launching from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on April 24. They’ve been doing experiments in life sciences, microgravity physics, space material science, space medicine and aerospace tech, according to CMSA.
“The space station is operating stably, and the three crew members are in good health,” CMSA added in a separate statement forward of the spacewalk. Friday’s extravehicular exercise was the third for the crew. Shenzhou 20 has additionally witnessed the departure of 1 cargo spacecraft (Tianzhou 8) and the arrival of one other (Tianzhou 9).
Shenzhou 20 is the ninth crewed mission to go to Tiangong, which is about 20% as large because the International Space Station and formed like a T. China accomplished meeting of the outpost in October 2022, however is contemplating placing on extra modules in future missions.
Dong, the commander, is on his third spaceflight, whereas Zhongrui and Jie are rookies.