Official announcements from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)

Shenzhou-19 Crew Completes 9-Hour Spacewalk at Tiangong Station

Dec 18, 2024, 02:27 AM

The Shenzhou-19 crew aboard China's Tiangong space station completed a record-breaking nine-hour and six-minute spacewalk on December 17, 2024, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong conducted the extravehicular activity (EVA), surpassing the previous record of eight hours and 56 minutes set by American astronauts in 2001. Tasks included installing debris protection devices, inspecting external equipment, and conducting maintenance, supported by the station's robotic arm, ground control teams, and crewmate Wang Haoze, who remained inside the station. The EVA concluded at 9:57 p.m. Beijing Time. Song Lingdong made history as the first Chinese astronaut born in the 1990s to complete an EVA. The mission marks a significant milestone in China's growing space exploration efforts.