Shenzhou XV astronauts take their first spacewalk

Shenzhou XV astronauts take their first spacewalk
by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Feb 10, 2023

Shenzhou XV mission crew members have just concluded their first spacewalk, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The agency said in a news release early on Friday morning that mission commander Major General Fei Junlong and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu completed a seven-hour spacewalk and returned to the Wentian science module at 12:16 am (Beijing Time). The third crew member, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming, stayed inside the Tiangong space station to provide support, it added.

During the operation, Fei and Zhang completed several tasks, including installing equipment on the space station's exterior.

It was the first spacewalk undertaken since Tiangong started its formal operations at the end of last year, the agency noted.

Moreover, extravehicular installation work has recently begun to mount a scientific apparatus outside of Tiangong, it added.

As of Friday morning, Shenzhou XV crew members have lived inside the space station for 72 days.

Fei's team arrived at the station on Nov 30. They are scheduled to remain until May, when the Shenzhou XVI crew is scheduled to take over.

The Shenzhou XV astronauts are tasked with conducting several spacewalks to mount equipment outside the station, installing and testing scientific cabinets and conducting scientific experiments and technological demonstrations.

As one of the largest ever space-based assets, Tiangong currently consists of the Tianhe core module, the Wentian and Mengtian science capsules, the Shenzhou XV crew spacecraft and the Tianzhou 5 cargo ship.

As of now, Chinese astronauts have carried out nine spacewalks.

Pre EVA Report
'Dream-chasing' astronauts to carry out their first mission outside space station

The Shenzhou XV mission crew, who are now inside the Tiangong space station, are scheduled to carry out their first spacewalk in the coming days, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The agency said in a brief news release on Wednesday afternoon that the Shenzhou XV astronauts - mission commander Major General Fei Junlong, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu - had lived inside the Tiangong station for 70 days as of Wednesday and were in good spirits.

"The Tiangong space station is in stable condition. All necessary elements for extravehicular activity have been put in place. The 'dream-chasing' crew are about to make their first spacewalk," the release said.

Sources close to the Tiangong program said that two astronauts in the crew are expected to install and fine-tune equipment outside the massive station and this will be challenging for them because this will be the first time they will work outside of an orbiting spacecraft.

"A spacewalk is never easy. It requires courage, energy and skills. I am sure that after so many years of training and preparations, the astronauts will conduct a perfect spacewalk," said Pang Zhihao, a retired researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology and a renowned writer on spaceflight.

"I look forward to seeing Deng flying in space. After all, a spacewalk is likely to be the final piece to realizing his dream," he said.

In the Shenzhou XV crew, Deng is probably the most popular among the public thanks to his moving story of persevering with his training for decades for the opportunity to go into space.

Fei's team arrived at the station on Nov 30. They are scheduled to stay until May, when they will be relieved by the crew of Shenzhou XVI.

The Shenzhou XV marks Fei's return to space after a 17-year wait. The 57-year-old veteran was part of the Shenzhou VI flight in October 2005.

This is the first space journey for both Deng, 56, and Zhang, 46.Deng is the last serving member of China's first group of astronauts to take part in a spaceflight while Zhang had been the only one in the second-generation of astronauts without spaceflight experience before the mission.

The Shenzhou XV crew are tasked with staying in orbit for six months to carry out a number of assignments, such as conducting spacewalks to mount equipment outside the station, installing and testing scientific cabinets, and conducting scientific experiments and technological demonstrations, mission officials said.

As one of the largest-ever space-based assets, the Tiangong station now consists of the Tianhe core module, the Wentian and Mengtian science capsules, the Shenzhou XV spacecraft and the Tianzhou 5 cargo ship.

It has an overall weight of nearly 100 metric tons and is expected to operate in orbit for about 10 years and will be open to foreign astronauts in the near future, according to space officials.

Source: Xinhua News Agency