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Chinese astronauts complete record-breaking spacewalk to protect Tiangong space station from debris

  • Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu installed protection shields and inspected equipment and facilities in 8½-hour extravehicular activity, says CMSA
  • The amount of time astronauts can spend outside Tiangong is determined by limits of their second-generation Feitian spacesuits

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On Tuesday morning, Chinese astronauts put armour on Tiangong space station in the longest spacewalk undertaken by Chinese astronauts. Photo: CMSA
Ling Xinin Ohio
Two Shenzhou-18 astronauts on board China’s Tiangong space station set a new spacewalking record for the country on Tuesday.
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During their 8½-hour extravehicular activity (EVA), mission commander Ye Guangfu and crew member Li Guangsu finished installing space debris protection devices and inspected equipment and facilities outside Tiangong, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

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The spacewalk broke previous records of about eight hours set by Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 astronauts, and approached the limit allowed by the spacesuits they were wearing. The second-generation Feitian (“flying to space”) spacesuit is designed to provide up to eight hours of support during a single walk, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

“The astronauts had a lot to do this time, including taking pictures of various equipment they were checking on, and that’s why their walk took so long,” Zhang Wanxin, from the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, told CCTV on Tuesday.

“The entire process went smoothly, and their operations were very accurate and successful.”

During their 8½-hour EVA, Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu also inspected equipment and facilities outside Tiangong, China’s space agency says. Photo: CMSA
During their 8½-hour EVA, Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu also inspected equipment and facilities outside Tiangong, China’s space agency says. Photo: CMSA

Li Xuedong, lead designer of the space station system from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said the protection shields were installed because of debris impact on Wentian, one of Tiangong’s three major modules.

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