On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the Shenzhou-21 crew completed their first spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station. Over the course of an eight-hour EVA, the astronauts installed a brand-new debris protection system to shield key modules from micrometeoroids and orbital junk. 🛡️✨
Here's what they tackled during the marathon outing:
- Mounted layered shielding panels around the core and lab modules
- Tested new tools designed for rapid installation in microgravity
- Conducted a detailed inspection of the station's exterior
Why it matters: Tiangong orbits Earth at about 400 km, where tiny debris pieces travel faster than 7 km/s. Even a paint fleck could damage vital systems! This upgrade boosts the station's safety, extends its lifespan, and showcases the Chinese mainland's growing prowess in crewed space operations. 🚀
With this successful spacewalk, Tiangong is now better protected and ready for the Chinese mainland's next orbital milestones.
Reference(s):
Chinese astronauts installed debris protection for space station
cgtn.com
