Yesterday (Tuesday, December 9, 2025), Chinese mainland astronauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei stepped out of their station module for the first spacewalk of the Shenzhou-21 mission. It was a major milestone: the very first use of the station’s second-generation Feitian extravehicular suits—think real-life Iron Man gear! 🤩🚀👩🚀
These new D and E model spacesuits arrived aboard the Tianzhou-9 cargo ship on July 15 of this year. They keep the classic white base but add a splash of color:
- Feitian D: white with bold red trim ❤️
- Feitian E: white with cool blue trim 💙
This fresh look isn’t just for style—it helps teams on the ground identify astronauts more quickly during complex spacewalks.
As Zhang Lu and Wu Fei floated outside, they tested mobility, tool-handling, and life support functions. Experts say these upgrades will boost safety and efficiency for future construction and maintenance tasks on the Chinese mainland’s space station.
What’s next? Over the coming days, the crew will continue experiments and system checks before heading home in late December. For space fans and tech buffs alike, these color-coded suits mark a fun, futuristic leap for China’s crewed program. Stay tuned for more updates! 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
