China's Astronauts Set New Spacewalk Duration Record

In a significant achievement for China's space program, two astronauts from the Shenzhou-19 mission completed a spacewalk that lasted nine hours, surpassing the previous record held by American astronauts.

Two astronauts on China's Shenzhou-19 mission made history this week by spending nine hours engaged in extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside the Tiangong Space Station. This endeavor reportedly set a new record for the longest spacewalk, exceeding the previous mark of eight hours and 56 minutes achieved by American astronauts in 2001, as announced by the China National Space Administration.

Astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong participated in this historic operation, which was another milestone in China's ambitious space exploration efforts. Following the spacewalk, Mr. Song expressed the profound nature of their experience, stating, "While admiring the wondrous views in space, we also felt deeply the weight and greatness of the manned space endeavor," as reported on Chinese state television.

Launched into space in late October, the astronauts' mission includes not only spacewalks but also the construction and maintenance of the growing Tiangong Space Station. They are joined by astronaut-engineer Wang Haoze, who remained inside the station during the EVA, assisting with tasks from aboard.

The crew is set to spend half a year in orbit, conducting scientific experiments and additional spacewalks, as the Chinese space agency eyes future moon missions, hoping to leverage their experiences from the Tiangong program.

Historically, the concept of a spacewalk dates back to 1965, with the first instance occurring when a Soviet astronaut spent a mere 16 minutes outside his spacecraft. The very first spacewalk performed by a Chinese astronaut took place in 2008, only lasting 19 minutes.

While China's Manned Space Agency did not outright claim the new spacewalk duration as a world record, referring instead to it as the longest for its astronauts, the agency remains optimistic about its international validation. Safety is paramount, as spacewalks are inherently risky; the astronauts utilized this mission to install debris protective equipment and conduct inspections of the station's exterior components.

Additionally, the astronauts brought along fruit flies to observe the effects of reduced magnetism and microgravity on their growth and behaviors, adding a biological dimension to their scientific pursuits in space.

This ambitious mission showcases China's increasing capabilities and aspirations in space exploration, reaching further and higher than ever before.