Shenzhou-19 Crew Install Debris Protection Hardware During Spacewalk [SZ-19 EVA-2]
Song Lingdong and Cai Xuzhe performed a second spacewalk during the Shenzhou-19 mission.
The second spacewalk for the Shenzhou-19 mission was conducted by Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong from the Wentian modules airlock on January 20th. For this spacewalk, Cai is believed to have worn the red suit while Song donned the blue suit.
Song and Cai’s second spacewalk lasted from 16:55 pm on January 20th to 01:12 am on January 21st, China Standard Time (08:55 am to 17:12 pm on January 20th, Universal Coordinated Time), for a total duration of eight hours and seventeen minutes. With the duration of the spacewalk, approximately ten sunrises and sunsets were experienced while outside the Tiangong Space Station.
While outside the station, Cai and Song installed various space debris protection devices with the help of the station’s robotic arm, controlled by a team on the ground. Inspections of the three modules and external hardware were also conducted.
Today’s spacewalk was the fourth for Cai Xuzhe and the second for Song Lingdong. Like in December, Wang Haoze remained inside the station providing support. In addition, Song is the youngest taikonaut to perform multiple spacewalks for China’s space program.
According to the China Manned Space Agency, in the near future Cai, Song, and Wang will prepare for the Chinese New Year celebrations. The crew will also continue carrying out scientific and technological experiments.
The Shenzhou-19 crew has been onboard Tiangong for almost three months, since late October, and is not set to return until late April or Early May. Additional spacewalks may take place when needed, for hardware installation or repairs, but the China Manned Space Agency has not yet announced plans for more spacewalks. Back in 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew performed four extra-vehicular activities during their six-month mission.
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Meet the Shenzhou-19 crew
Cai Xuzhe (蔡旭哲)
The commander of the Shenzhou-19 mission is Cai Xuzhe, making his second trip to the space station. Cai Xuzhe's first flight was for the sixth-month Shenzhou-14 mission, lasting from June to December of 2022, this mission saw the Wentian and Mengtian modules dock as well as having the first crew handover, when the Shenzhou-15 crew arrived.
Cai is from Shenzhou (深州市), in Hebei province (河北), and has served in the People's Liberation Army Air Force. In 2010 he was selected as part of the second group of taikonauts. After the Shenzhou-14 mission, Cai was awarded the honorary title of "Heroic Astronaut" in March 2023.
Song Lingdong (宋令东)
The operator for the Shenzhou-19 mission is Song Lingdong, making his first trip to space. Like his crewmate, Song Lingdong is part of the third group of Taikonauts and was selected in 2020.
Song is from Caoxian county (曹县), in Shandong Province (山东), and has served in the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Having joined the PLAAF in 2008, Song went on to earn the rank of Lieutenant Colonel along with flying Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-35 aircraft for international joint exercises.
Wang Haoze (王浩泽)
The science operator for the Shenzhou-19 mission is Wang Haoze, making her first trip to space. Wang Haoze is part of the third group of Taikonauts and was selected in 2020.
Wang is from Chengde (承德市), in Hebei province (河北), and was previously a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. During her time working as a propulsion engineer, she notably co-authored a paper about nuclear thermal rocket engines.