Shenzhou-18 crew break China's record! [SZ-18 EVA-1]

This post was originally posted on May 30th 2024 on Ko-fi.

Li Guangsu exiting the airlock on the Wentian module.

After spending a month aboard China's Tiangong Space Station the Shenzhou-18 crew, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, conducted the first spacewalk during their six-month stay aboard the station. The spacewalk took place on May 28th.

The extravehicular activity is believed to have started at 10:35 am, Beijing Time, when Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu opened the hatch on the Wentian module. Ye Guangfu, who was in the red suit, exited the station first with Li Guangsu, who was in the blue suit, following by 12:20 pm, the reason for the almost two-hour difference is currently unknown but this was Li's first spacewalk. 

Ye Guangfu moving along Wentian and attaching to the station's robotic arm.

Li Cong stayed inside the Tianhe module for the duration of the spacewalk to assist Ye and Li. This spacewalk is believed to be the sixteenth conducted by Chinese taikonauts by China Daily and Xinhua, but CGTN believes it was the fifteenth. 

The total length of this spacewalk is also believed to have broken a Chinese record with a length of approximately eight and a half hours. The spacewalk started at 10:35 am and ended at 18:58 pm, Beijing Time. 

Li Cong inside Tianhe monitoring the spacewalk. (Via Xinhua)

Ye and Li inspected the exterior of the station, installed protection for power systems, and installed micrometeorite shields on the outside of the station.

Speaking to China Media Group Li Xuedong, Deputy Chief Designer of the Space Station System at the China Academy of Space Technology, said the following about the spacewalk: 

"Since the Shenzhou-17 mission, we have been carrying out long-term extravehicular maintenance and inspection tasks. During this spacewalk, we addressed issues with the debris protection system by installing a protective panel, which will reduce the risk of collisions with debris and meteoroids for key equipment during long-term operations."

This is believed to be the first of at least two spacewalks planned for the Shenzhou-18 crew during their six-month stay onboard the Tiangong Space Station. China Manned Space Agency has not yet shared any details on a second spacewalk, but the crew has five months left on orbit.

Ye Guangfu emerging from the Wentian Module.