Chinese astronauts complete 6.5-hour spacewalk to upgrade Tiangong’s debris shield


Daijiworld Media Network - Beijing

Beijing, Aug 23: Chinese astronauts Chen Dong and Wang Jie successfully completed a 6.5-hour spacewalk on Aug. 15 to reinforce the debris shield of the Tiangong space station. As part of the Shenzhou 20 crew, they also inspected and maintained exterior equipment during the extravehicular activity (EVA).

This marked at least their second effort to install “debris protection” devices on the station, following a previous spacewalk on May 22. The EVA concluded at 9:27 a.m. EDT, making it Chen Dong’s sixth spacewalk—the most by any Chinese astronaut—and the third EVA of the Shenzhou 20 mission. Launched from Jiuquan on April 24, the crew is now about halfway through its six-month mission.

During the spacewalk, the astronauts installed and adjusted additional protective panels on Tiangong’s exterior to strengthen its shield against orbital debris and performed routine equipment checks. Crew member Chen Zhongrui assisted from inside the station during the operation.

China’s 2022 government white paper emphasizes space debris as a global concern, pledging enhanced space-traffic control and improved debris tracking and warning systems. Officials note that spent rocket stages are passivated and retired spacecraft, like the defunct Tiangong-2, are actively de-orbited to reduce hazards. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson highlighted the importance of international cooperation, stating that all spacefaring nations must recognize the risks posed by uncontrolled re-entries and promote transparency.

The Shenzhou 20 crew’s ongoing upgrades are part of broader efforts to safeguard the station amid growing global concerns over orbital debris as more countries launch satellites.

  

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Title: Chinese astronauts complete 6.5-hour spacewalk to upgrade Tiangong’s debris shield



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