According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, at 01:36 Malaysian time on April 17, after about 5.5 hours of extravehicular activity, Shenzhou 21 crew members Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang worked closely together, completing tasks such as the installation of space debris protection devices and inspection of external equipment and facilities, with support from the space station's robotic arm and ground researchers.
Spacewalking astronauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei have safely returned to the Wentian Laboratory Module, and the extravehicular activity was a complete success. As of now, astronaut Zhang Lu has conducted a total of seven spacewalks, setting a new record for the number of extravehicular activities by a Chinese astronaut.
Since successfully completing the second spacewalk on March 16, the Shenzhou 21 crew has been steadily advancing experimental tasks in areas such as space life sciences and human research, microgravity physics, as well as ongoing in-station environment monitoring, equipment inspection and maintenance, materials organization, and has completed full-system pressure emergency drills, on-orbit emergency rescue training, and preparation for extravehicular activities.
At present, the three astronauts have been in orbit for more than five months and are in good condition in terms of work and life. To further deepen the verification of key technologies related to long-term astronaut stays in orbit, and to fully utilize the comprehensive benefits of Shenzhou 22’s emergency launch capability for delivering supplies to the space station, after careful deliberation and evaluation, it is planned to extend the crew’s on-orbit stay by about one month. In the upcoming journey, the crew will continue to carry out relevant scientific experiments and technical tests, celebrate China Space Day while in orbit, and joyfully observe International Labor Day.
The Shenzhou 21 spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China aboard a Long March 2F carrier rocket on October 31 last year. The three astronauts were scheduled for approximately six months of space station residency, originally planned to return to Earth around April. After the extension, the Chinese authorities have not specified an exact return date.