On 20 July 2023, two Chinese astronauts (taikonauts) Jing Haipeng and Zhu Yangzhu of Shenzhou 16 began their first spacewalk from the Chinese Space Station (Tiangong) at approximately 0540 GMT when they exited the Wentian lab module. Crewmate Gui Haichao assisted with operations from within the space station using the robotic arm.
SHENZHOU 16 crews first EVA to install mounting frame and cameras. Courtesy: Globalink/Xinhua.
The taikonauts had several tasks during this mission including the installation of a support frame outside the Tianhe core module for the attachment of a panoramic camera. They also unlocked and lifted into position two panoramic cameras to the outside of the Mentian lab module before returning to the Wentian lab module at 1340 GMT. The EVA took approximately 8 hours.
Shenzhou 16 was launched and docked with the Chinese space station on 30 May 2023. This was Jing’s fourth space flight and his first spacewalk. Zhu became China’s first Flight Engineer to complete an EVA. This was the fifth mission to visit the Chinese Space Station. The crew of Shenzhou 16 will complete multiple EVA’s to continue work on external installations to the space station.
