Chinese Astronauts Conduct Second Spacewalk to Repair Tiangong Space Station
In a remarkable display of skill and precision, a pair of Chinese astronauts embarked on their second spacewalk to carry out crucial repairs on the Tiangong space station. This extravehicular activity (EVA) marked the 14th spacewalk conducted at the station and was part of the ongoing Shenzhou 17 mission.
The spacewalk began when astronaut Jiang Xinlin opened the Wentian experiment module extravehicular activity hatch at 4:40 p.m. EST on March 1. He was soon joined outside Tiangong by mission commander Tang Hongbo, while their crewmate Tang Shengjie remained inside to support operations using the station’s robotic arm. The trio worked in perfect coordination to ensure the success of the mission.
The primary objective of this spacewalk was to address maintenance issues with the solar array of Tiangong’s Tianhe core module. These large area solar panels are occasionally affected by micrometeoroids, which can disrupt their functionality. After confirming that the repairs had restored normal power generation, Tang and Jiang proceeded with extravehicular inspection tasks.
After an impressive eight-hour endeavor, Tang and Jiang safely returned to the Wentian module at 0532 GMT on March 2, as confirmed by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The agency had previously announced the impending spacewalk and later released short clips showcasing the astronauts’ maintenance activities while tethered to the station.
“The astronauts’ performance was flawless,” praised Wu Dawei, deputy chief designer of China’s manned space program astronaut system, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV). “Although it was Jiang Xinlin’s first time engaging in extravehicular activities on the robotic arm, he showed composure and remained calm. The coordination between him and fellow astronauts, and with the ground team, was perfect. The mission was completed perfectly following our designed procedures and plans in the whole process.”
This successful spacewalk comes as part of the Shenzhou 17 mission, which launched in late October 2023. The crew had previously conducted their first spacewalk in December, showcasing their expertise and adaptability in the challenging environment of outer space.
The Shenzhou 17 crew is expected to remain aboard the Tiangong space station for a six-month-long mission. They will then hand over the station to the incoming Shenzhou 18 crew around April or May, marking another significant milestone in China’s ambitious space exploration program.
As China continues to make strides in space exploration, their dedication to maintaining and advancing the capabilities of the Tiangong space station is evident. With each successful spacewalk, the nation solidifies its position as a key player in the realm of human spaceflight and paves the way for future scientific endeavors and international collaborations.
