The Shenzhou 14 crew completed their first spacewalk on the Tiangong space station on September 2.
The Shenzhou 14 crew carried out their first spacewalk. (Video: CNSA)
China launched the Shenzhou 14 spacecraft on June 5, sending a crew of three to the Tiangong space station for a mission expected to last six months. In early September, two of the three astronauts, Chen Dong and Liu Yang, exited the airlock of the Wentian laboratory module to conduct an extravehicular activity, also known as a spacewalk, lasting six hours.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the duo safely returned to the module at 12:33 AM on September 2, Beijing time, after completing all scheduled tasks.
Astronauts Chen Dong and Liu Yang exited the airlock of the Wentian laboratory module.
With the support of astronaut Cai Xuzhe inside the Wentian module and a 5-meter remote-controlled robotic arm, Chen and Liu completed the installation of an extended pump set that plays a role in the thermal control system of the Tiangong station, elevated an external panoramic camera on the Wentian module to provide a wide field of view, and tested procedures for returning to the space station in case of emergencies.
“I want to thank my colleagues, all the technical staff, and the people of China who have cared for and worried about us. This achievement is the result of everyone’s collective efforts both on the ground and in space,” Liu shared after completing the mission.
This was the first spacewalk for the Shenzhou 14 crew and the fifth for China outside the Tiangong space station. Zhang Yuedong, Deputy Director of the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, stated that what the astronauts accomplished “is of great significance for the construction of China’s space station.”
“From now on, extravehicular activities will mainly be conducted from the airlock of the Wentian laboratory module. With the tested support equipment and robotic arm, preparations for future spacewalks will become easier,” Zhang emphasized.
