China sets new world record for spacewalk

Astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou 19 spacecraft have completed the world's longest spacewalk.

According to the China Manned Space Administration (CMSA), astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong ended their spacewalk at 9:57 p.m. on December 17 (Beijing time). The spacewalk lasted 9 hours. This was the first spacewalk of the Shenzhou 19 mission and broke the record set more than 2 decades ago by NASA astronauts (USA).

Chinese astronauts walk in space on December 17, 2024

The previous record was set on March 11, 2001, when US astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms spent 8 hours and 56 minutes outside the space shuttle Discovery on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The nine-hour spacewalk marked a milestone in China’s space history, the South China Morning Post said. The astronauts on board Shenzhou 19 worked closely with the space station’s robotic arm and ground science staff to complete tasks such as installing space debris protection equipment, and inspecting and maintaining equipment and facilities outside the spacecraft.

This spacewalk marks the return of astronaut Cai Xuzhe after two years, while Song Lingdong becomes the first Chinese astronaut born in the 90s to perform this activity.

To date, Chinese astronauts have completed 18 spacewalks. Earlier this year, on the Shenzhou-18 mission, astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu completed a similar mission, spending 8 hours and 23 minutes outside the Tiangong space station.

Not the first spacewalk, but still making history

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-quoc-lap-ky-luc-the-gioi-moi-ve-di-bo-ngoai-khong-gian-185241218110554887.htm