Shenzhou-23 crew completes first spacewalk at Tiangong station

The Shenzhou-23 crew has successfully completed their first extravehicular activity (EVA) at the Tiangong space station. Astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan performed the spacewalk, which lasted approximately 5.5 hours, with support from crew member Li Jiaying, the station’s robotic arm, and ground-based scientific personnel.

During the mission, the astronauts conducted maintenance on the station’s solar panels and installed protective devices against space debris to ensure stable power supplies. This mission marked Zhu Yangzhu’s second spacewalk, occurring three years after his first, while it was Zhang Zhiyuan’s inaugural EVA.

The crew, who arrived at the station on May 25, has been conducting various tasks including orbital handovers, docking training, medical assistance drills, and emergency system exercises. They will continue to perform scientific experiments in microgravity, life sciences, and new space technologies.