BEIJING — China’s space program reached a new milestone Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, as the three-person crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission successfully finished their initial series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside the nation’s orbiting space station. The mission, managed by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), underscores Beijing’s accelerating capabilities in long-duration human spaceflight and orbital maintenance.

The astronaut trio—Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang—spent approximately eight hours conducting complex operations outside the station’s pressurized modules. Their tasks, completed at 6:45 p.m. Beijing Time, were supported by the station’s sophisticated robotic arm and a dedicated ground-control team at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center. Notably, Wu Fei became the youngest Chinese astronaut ever to perform a spacewalk, highlighting the growing depth of China’s astronaut corps.

Critical Repairs and Inspections Completed

The primary focus of the lengthy EVA involved critical inspection and infrastructure upgrades. Astronauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei were directly responsible for the spacewalk operations, tackling three key objectives.

First, the duo successfully inspected and photographed the viewport window of the previously docked Shenzhou-20 return capsule. This diagnostic step is crucial for ensuring the integrity and safety of future crew returns.

Second, the astronauts installed a new debris protection device onto the exterior of the space station, a proactive measure designed to shield vital components from micro-meteoroid and orbital debris impacts. Given the increasingly congested low Earth orbit environment, such protective measures are paramount to the station’s longevity.

Finally, they replaced the multilayer thermal cover on a thermal control adapter, a procedure vital for regulating the temperature of critical station systems.

Future Mission Objectives

This initial spacewalk is merely the first set of EVAs planned for the Shenzhou-21 mission. According to the CMSA, the crew’s remaining time in orbit will include additional extravehicular activities focusing on crew training and the deployment of applied payloads. The mission schedule also incorporates a significant program of scientific experiments and technical verification tests aimed at expanding operational knowledge in a microgravity environment.

A potential, yet unscheduled, task involves addressing specific repair work. The CMSA noted that depending on further assessment, the crew may also undertake protective operations targeting potential damage to a window on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft. This contingency planning demonstrates the flexible and adaptive nature of China’s modern space operations.

The successful completion of this intricate spacewalk further solidifies China’s position as a major player in space exploration and human presence in orbit. The ability to perform complex, prolonged EVAs is essential for the continuous assembly, maintenance, and potential expansion of the modular orbiting platform, ensuring its function as a permanent, continuously crewed outpost for scientific and technological advancement.