Colonel Chen Zhongrui, 40, and Colonel Wang Jie, 36, floated in space for nearly six hours before returning to the Wentian science module at 1:35 am. Mission commander Senior Colonel Chen Dong remained inside Tiangong to provide internal support.
With help from ground controllers and use of the robotic arm, the astronauts installed debris shields, inspected external equipment, and repaired malfunctioning components. Agency officials confirmed that all scheduled objectives were achieved.
The outing marked the 24th spacewalk by Chinese astronauts and the first time both participants were from the nation's third-generation astronaut corps.
Shenzhou XX is China's 15th crewed spaceflight and the ninth long-duration crew to inhabit Tiangong. The three astronauts have now been in orbit for over five months conducting experiments and technical work. They are slated to return to Earth next month.
Their predecessors aboard Shenzhou XIX completed three spacewalks during a six-month residency.
Tiangong circles Earth about 400 kilometers above the surface. The orbital complex consists of a core module and two laboratory capsules, with regular visits from crew and cargo vehicles. With a mass of roughly 100 metric tons, it is expected to operate for at least a decade as a national hub for science and technology research.
Related Links
China Manned Space Agency
The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology
China News from SinoDaily.com
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