The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China’s orbiting space station completed their mission’s fourth spacewalk early on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The astronaut trio — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie — worked outside the space station for approximately six hours and completed all assigned tasks at 01:35 Beijing Time, assisted by the Tiangong space station’s robotic arm and a ground control team.
Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, tasked with conducting the spacewalk operations, completed the installation of debris protection devices and the inspection and maintenance of external equipment, according to the CMSA.
This is the first time a spacewalk has been performed by two astronauts from China’s third group of astronaut recruits.
Up to now, the Shenzhou-20 astronauts have completed four extravehicular activities, making it one of the Chinese crews that have carried out the most spacewalks aboard the orbiting space station.
The crew has stayed in orbit for more than 150 days, carrying out a large number of scientific experiments and technological tests.
The Shenzhou-20 astronauts entered the space station on April 25 for a mission expected to last around 6 months.
