On July 3, 2024, Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Cong, part of the Shenzhou-18 crew, executed a successful 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station. This significant event marked another milestone in China’s rapidly advancing space exploration efforts. Meanwhile, their fellow crew member Li Guangsu provided critical support from inside the station by operating the robotic arm, a key component in their mission.
During the extravehicular activity (EVA), Li Cong utilized the robotic arm to inspect and document the station’s facilities, capturing the process with his helmet camera. The astronauts re-entered the Tiangong station through the EVA hatch located on the Wentian science module, bringing their mission to a successful conclusion.
Primary Objectives and Achievements at Tiangong Station
The primary goal of this EVA was to install protective devices for extravehicular equipment, including essential cables and pipelines. This installation is crucial for enhancing the long-term operational safety and stability of the Tiangong space station. Such efforts are integral to ensuring the station’s resilience against the harsh conditions of space.
Reflecting on the mission, Li Cong expressed his awe at the accomplishment: “The Chinese space station is very beautiful. Even in the bright sunshine, I can’t resist stealing additional looks at the space station. Whenever the robotic arm reaches its highest position, it captures my attention. I am deeply moved by the project’s greatness, and I salute our nation and all space professionals.”
Historical Context and Previous Missions
The Shenzhou-18 mission is part of China’s broader agenda to establish a robust presence in space. During a previous spacewalk in late May, Ye Guangfu and Li Cong installed space debris shielding. They added this protection to the exterior of the Mengtian experiment module. This EVA set a national record, with the astronauts spending approximately 8.5 hours outside the Tiangong station.
China’s journey in spacewalks began with the Shenzhou-7 mission in 2008, which marked the country’s first spacewalk. Since then, China has steadily increased the frequency and complexity of its EVAs. Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, two taikonauts from Shenzhou-12, completed the first spacewalk on the Tiangong space station. This milestone event took place on July 4, 2021. The spacewalk lasted almost seven hours.
Achievements and Records in Spacewalks
The Shenzhou-15 mission crew operated from November 2022 to June 2023. They hold the record for the most EVAs during any mission, with a total of four. This record highlights China’s growing expertise and confidence in conducting spacewalks. The Shenzhou-13 crew, which completed two spacewalks during their six-month mission, also made history by including the first female Chinese spacewalker, Wang Yaping. Known as the “space teacher,” Wang Yaping conducted a live video lecture to students during her first space mission in 2013.
Subsequent missions have continued to build on these achievements. Notably, Shenzhou-14 was the first to leave the Wentian lab module rather than the core module during its three spacewalks. As a four-time space flier, crew commander Jing Haipeng’s desire of leading a spacewalk was realized with this EVA. A significant first was the two EVAs carried out by Chinese spacewalkers on the Shenzhou-17 mission, who carried out maintenance duties. Commander Ye Guangfu and crew member Li Guangsu conducted the longest Chinese spacewalk on May 28 when they ventured outside the Tiangong space station for around 8.5 hours. The Shenzhou-18 crew initiated the spacewalk in late April.
Future Prospects
As China continues to expand its capabilities and ambitions in space exploration, the achievements of missions like Shenzhou-18 highlight the nation’s growing expertise and commitment to advancing its presence in space. The successful execution of these complex EVAs not only enhances the operational stability of the Tiangong space station but also lays the groundwork for future missions and technological advancements.
China’s space program has achieved remarkable milestones and records. It is poised to play a significant role in the global space exploration landscape. The continued dedication of Chinese astronauts and space professionals is evident. Their ingenuity promises to propel the nation’s space endeavors to new heights in the coming years.
