Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong concluded a seven-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) outside the Tiangong space station on March 21, marking a significant step as their six-month mission nears its end. The astronauts successfully installed space debris protective shielding on the Wentian science module, completing a series of shielding deployments. They also installed auxiliary facilities and inspected extravehicular equipment, with Cai using Tiangong's robotic arm for photographic inspections.
Wang Haoze, the mission's third crew member, supported the EVA from inside the station. This EVA marks Cai Xuzhe's fifth spacewalk, a record for Chinese astronauts. The Shenzhou-19 crew, launched on October 30, has conducted various experiments, including fruit fly cultivation and protein crystallization studies. A new health assessment system for astronauts in microgravity has also been implemented. The crew is expected to return to Earth in late April or early May.
Meanwhile, the Long March 2F rocket for the Shenzhou-21 mission, scheduled for the second half of 2025, has been transported to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, maintaining readiness for a potential rescue launch.