List of Tiangong space station spacewalks explained

The Tiangong space station is a Chinese space station in low Earth orbit, and is operated by the China Manned Space Agency. Extravehicular activities are crucial for both the construction and maintenance of the station. Zhai Zhigang completed the first Chinese spacewalk in 2008, during the Shenzhou 7 mission. Since then, every other Chinese spacewalk has been carried out at the Tiangong space station.

List

^denotes spacewalks performed from the Wentian module

MissionSpacewalkersStart (UTC)End (UTC)Duration
1.Shenzhou 12
EVA 1
*
Liu Boming
Tang Hongbo
4 July 2021
00:11
4 July 2021
06:57
6 hours, 46 minutes
Tested an updated version of the Feitian space suit, completed installation of the station's robotic arm, and installed exterior equipment for use on future missions, including a camera lifting bracket.[1] [2]
2.Shenzhou 12
EVA 2
*
Nie Haisheng
Liu Boming
20 August 2021
00:38
20 August 2021
06:33
5 hours, 55 minutes
Tested spacecraft equipment, installed a backup thermal control pump, and installed and raised panoramic camera D.[3]
3.Shenzhou 13
EVA 1
*
Zhai Zhigang
Wang Yaping
7 November 2021
11:28
7 November 2021
17:16
5 hours, 48 minutes
Installed a dual-arm connector to the station's robotic arm along with testing EVA equipment. Wang Yaping became the first Chinese woman to perform an EVA.[4] [5]
4.Shenzhou 13
EVA 2
*
Ye Guangfu
Zhai Zhigang
26 December 2021
10:44
26 December 2021
16:55
6 hours, 11 minutes
Installed panoramic camera C, installed a foot restraint, and tested methods of moving objects outside of the station.[6]
5.Shenzhou 14
EVA 1
^
Chen Dong
Liu Yang
1 September 2022
10:26
1 September 2022
16:33
6 hours, 7 minutes
Installed an extended pump set on the exterior of Wentian, raised panoramic camera B, installed an exterior workbench, and tested procedures for an emergency return to the station.[7]
6.Shenzhou 14
EVA 2
^
Chen Dong
Cai Xuzhe
17 September 2022
05:35
17 September 2022
09:47
4 hours, 12 minutes
Installed EVA foot restraints and exterior workbenches, worked on the extended pump set, and verified EVA rescue capabilities.[8]
7.Shenzhou 14
EVA 3
^
Chen Dong
Cai Xuzhe
17 November 2022
03:16
17 November 2022
08:50
5 hours, 34 minutes
Installed an inter-chamber connection device between Tianhe and Mengtian, raised panoramic A on Wentian, and installed a small mechanical arm power-assisted handle.[9]
8.Shenzhou 15
EVA 1
^
Fei Junlong
Zhang Lu
9 February 2023
09:10
9 February 2023
16:16
7 hours, 6 minutes
Tasks included the installation of a fourth external pump (Z01-04) on Mengtian and other tasks related to Mengtian's payload airlock.[10]
9.Shenzhou 15
EVA 2
^
Fei Junlong
Zhang Lu
Unknown
Tasks completed were not revealed publicly and no announcement was given prior to the spacewalk. Rumors suggest it took place on February 28, however no date was officially given.[11] Taikonauts installed electrical equipment, according to some Chinese-language sources.[12]
10.Shenzhou 15
EVA 3
^
Fei Junlong
Zhang Lu
Unknown
Tasks completed were not revealed publicly and no announcement was given prior to the spacewalk. Rumors suggest it took place on March 30, however no date was officially given. Taikonauts installed and connected cables across the cabin.[13]
11.Shenzhou 15
EVA 4
^
Fei Junlong
Zhang Lu
Unknown
Tasks completed were not revealed publicly and no announcement was given prior to the spacewalk. Rumors suggest it took place on 15 April, however no date was officially given. Taikonauts disposed of trash bags, completed the installation of the fifth extended pump (Z02-01) set on Mengtian, installed and connected cross-cabin cables, and installed the external load exposure platform and support brackets for later science and technology experiments.
12.Shenzhou 16
EVA 1
^
Jing Haipeng
Zhu Yangzhu
20 July 2023
05:45
20 July 2023
13:40
7 hours, 55 minutes
Taikonauts installed & lifted the bracket for Tianhe panoramic camera B and unlocked & lifted panoramic camera A/B on Mengtian. Zhu Yangzhu became first Chinese flight engineer to conduct an extravehicular activity.[14]
13.Shenzhou 17
EVA 1
^
Tang Hongbo
Tang Shengjie
21 December 2023
6:10
21 December 2023
13:35
7 hours, 25 minutes
Tasks included a repair test of the Tianhe core module's solar panels, which have sustained minor damage caused by impacts of space debris and micrometeoroids.[15]
14.Shenzhou 17
EVA 2
^
Tang Hongbo
Jiang Xinlin
1 March 2024
21:40
2 March 2024
05:32
7 hours, 52 minutes
Tasks included maintenance of the solar pannels of the Tianhe core module, which have sustained minor damage caused by impacts of space debris and micrometeoroids; evaluation and analysis of the performance status of the solar pannel power generation and also inspection of the status of the space station modules.[16]
15.Shenzhou 18
EVA 1
^
Ye Guangfu
Li Guangsu
28 May 2024
02:35
28 May 2024
10:58
8 hours, 23 minutes
Longest Chinese spacewalk to date. Tasks included installing space debris protection shields and conducting inspections of extravehicular equipment and facilities.[17]
16.Shenzhou 18
EVA 2
^
Ye Guangfu
Li Cong
3 July 2024
07:21
3 July 2024
14:51
6 hours, 30 minutes
Tasks included installing further space debris protection shields on pipelines, cables, and other equipment, and inspecting the exterior of the station.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chinese astronauts complete first space walk outside new space station . 2022-09-26 . NBC News . en . 2022-09-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220926202623/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/chinese-astronauts-complete-first-space-walk-outside-new-tiangong-space-n1273060 . live .
  2. Web site: Andrew jones . 2023-02-10 . China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts take their 1st spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video) . 2023-02-10 . Space.com . en.
  3. Web site: Davenport . Justin . 2021-08-20 . Chinese Space Station taikonauts conduct second spacewalk . 2022-09-26 . NASASpaceFlight.com . en-US . 2021-12-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211225225637/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/08/chinese-space-station-second-spacewalk/ . live .
  4. Web site: Andrew Jones published . 2021-11-11 . China's first Shenzhou 13 spacewalk sees 2 astronauts test suits, robotic arm . 2022-09-26 . Space.com . en . 2022-02-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220219153354/https://www.space.com/china-astronauts-spacewalk-shenzhou-13 . live .
  5. Web site: Navin . Joseph . 2021-11-07 . Wang Yaping becomes the first Chinese woman to walk in space . 2022-09-26 . NASASpaceFlight.com . en-US . 2021-12-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211230193443/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/11/first-chinese-woman-spacewalk/ . live .
  6. Web site: Davenport . Justin . 2021-12-26 . Shenzhou-13 crew conducts second spacewalk of mission . 2022-09-26 . NASASpaceFlight.com . en-US . 2021-12-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211227004513/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/shenzhou-13-second-spacewalk/ . live .
  7. Web site: Andrew Jones published . 2022-09-02 . China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts perform 1st spacewalk out of new module (video) . 2022-09-26 . Space.com . en . 2022-09-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922200826/https://www.space.com/china-astronauts-spacewalk-from-new-module . live .
  8. Web site: Elizabeth Howell . 2022-09-17 . Chinese astronauts take 4-hour spacewalk outside new lab at Tiangong space station . 2022-09-26 . Space.com . en . 2022-09-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220921213723/https://www.space.com/chinese-astronauts-tiangong-space-station-wentian-spacewalk-september-2022 . live .
  9. Web site: Andrew Jones . 2022-11-18 . China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts complete their 3rd and final spacewalk (video) . 2022-11-18 . Space.com . en.
  10. Web site: Jones . Andrew . 2023-02-10 . China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts take their 1st spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video) . 2023-12-12 . Space.com . en.
  11. Web site: Jones . Andrew . 2023-03-02 . China’s Shenzhou-15 astronauts conduct secretive second spacewalk . 2023-04-09 . SpaceNews . en-US.
  12. Web site: 《面对面》揭秘神十五乘组四次出舱细节 . 2023-12-12 . Weixin Official Accounts Platform.
  13. Web site: 《面对面》揭秘神十五乘组四次出舱细节 . 2023-08-17 . Weixin Official Accounts Platform.
  14. Web site: China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts complete 1st spacewalk (video). Space. 26 July 2023.
  15. Web site: Shenzhou-17 crew completes first spacewalk english.scio.gov.cn . 2023-12-22 . english.scio.gov.cn.
  16. Web site: Shenzhou-17 crew completes in-orbit repairs during 2nd extravehicular mission. Xinhua. 2 March 2024. 2 March 2024.
  17. Web site: 24小时 . [24小时]约8.5小时!神十八乘组完成首次出舱 ]. 2024-05-28 . tv.cctv.com.