US EditionChinese Astronauts Inspect Damaged Shenzhou 20 Spacecraft During 8-Hour Spacewalk
Astronauts used upgraded Feitian suits to inspect a debris-caused crack on Shenzhou-20's viewport and installed protective shielding during a spacewalk over eight hours long.
- Late Monday, two Shenzhou-21 astronauts—Zhang Lu and Wu Fei—began an EVA at 0228 UTC, Dec. 9, lasting over eight hours, ending at 1042 UTC, Dec. 9.
- A pre-departure check found a tiny crack in the Shenzhou-20 return module, suspected from debris impact, postponing the three-astronaut crew's Nov. 5 return, CMSA said.
- At around 12:19 a.m. Eastern, Zhang Lu approached the Shenzhou-20 viewport attached to the Tiandong robotic arm while the astronauts installed space debris protective shielding and replaced temperature-control covers wearing upgraded Feitian EVA suits aided by crewmate Zhang Hongzhang inside Tiangong.
- CMSA said after the EVA that the Shenzhou-21 crew will take protective measures for Shenzhou-20's damaged windows and may reinforce them later, while Shenzhou-22's launch leaves a gap in emergency launch capacity.
- Amid a surge of launches since Dec. 5, China is expediting Shenzhou-23 spacecraft and Long March 2F launcher production, with delivery to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center expected in January.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Chinese Astronauts Clamber Outside Space Station to Inspect Damaged Spacecraft
Last month, Chinese astronauts on board the country’s Tiangong space station discovered cracks in the window of their return vehicle, the Shenzhou-20, which officials suspected were the result of a space debris strike. The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was deemed not safe enough to return its crew after the cracks were found, prompting an orbital game of musical chairs as the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) launched an emergency uncrewed replacement s…
Chinese astronauts inspect debris-damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft during spacewalk
Two Shenzhou-21 astronauts embarked on the mission’s first spacewalk late Monday, inspecting and photographing a damaged spacecraft window which triggered an earlier emergency launch. The post Chinese astronauts inspect debris-damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft during spacewalk appeared first on SpaceNews.
On December 9, 2025, Shenzhou-21 commander Zhang Lu and Wu Fei spent over eight hours in space. The third expedition member, Zhang Hongzhang, remained inside the Tiangong module, while ground controllers provided support. Their first task was to inspect Shenzhou-20. A crack, likely caused by a micrometeorite or piece of space debris, was discovered on one of the descent module's windows. The post "Eight Hours in Space for a Single Crack" – Chine…
It was for China a rather unusual extravehicular exit. On December 9, 2025, the crew of the Tiangong space station carried out a crucial inspection to examine the cracks on the porthole of the Shenzhou 20 ship. Hounded by space debris, the spacecraft is considered unfit for manned flight. Its final fate is still uncertain.
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