Chinese astronauts complete world record-breaking spacewalk at 9 hours

Shenzhou-19 crew members Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong installed space protection devices and conducted maintenance outside Tiangong

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Shenzhou-19 astronaut Song Lingdong waves during the record-breaking nine-hour spacewalk in a screen image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:42am, 18 Dec 2024Updated: 12:35pm, 18 Dec 2024

Two Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have broken the world record for the longest single spacewalk, set more than two decades ago by the US space programme.

At 9.57pm Beijing time on Tuesday, Shenzhou-19 crew members Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong completed a nine-hour extravehicular activity (EVA), according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

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Chinese astronauts complete world record-breaking 9-hour spacewalk

The previous record was set on March 11, 2001, when American astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms spent eight hours and 56 minutes outside the space shuttle Discovery during a mission to the International Space Station, according to Nasa.

The nine-hour EVA also marks a milestone in China’s spacewalk history. Earlier this year, Shenzhou-18 astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu completed a similar mission, spending eight hours and 23 minutes outside Tiangong.

State broadcaster CCTV reported at the time that the second-generation “Feitian” spacesuits worn by the astronauts during the EVA in May were capable of supporting up to eight hours of external work – double the duration of the first-generation suits.

China’s first-ever spacewalk occurred in September 2008, when Zhai Zhigang spent just under 20 minutes outside the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft in the first-generation Feitian suit.