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Two Chinese astronauts have set a new world record for the longest spacewalk, surpassing the previous record held by the United States.

Science and Technology | Dated: 27 Dec 2024

According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), two Chinese astronauts from the Shenzhou-19 mission, aboard the Tiangong Space Station (TSS), have successfully completed their first Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) (spacewalks) lasting 9 hours. This achievement has set a new world record for the longest spacewalk duration.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Mission Commander Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong carried out this historic spacewalk outside the Tiangong Space Station while in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • - The spacewalk lasted longer than the previous record of 8 hours and 56 minutes, set in 2001 by NASA astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms.
  • - Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, wearing second-generation "Feitian" spacesuits, successfully completed tasks such as installing debris protection on the Tiangong Space Station's (TSS) exterior, showcasing significant advancements over the first-generation suits used during China's first spacewalk in 2008.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) With this spacewalk, Song Lingdong became the first Chinese astronaut born in the 1990s to complete an Extravehicular Activity (EVA).
  • (ii) This was the second spacewalk for Mission Commander Cai Xuzhe, who had previously completed a 5.5-hour spacewalk during the Shenzhou-14 mission in November 2022.
  • (iii) In 1965, the former Soviet Union became the first country to carry out a spacewalk, which lasted about 12 minutes.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which country's astronauts recently set a new world record for the longest spacewalk?

Correct Answer: China

🚀 Quick Recap: