Liu Boming (at the top) and Tang Hongbo, Shenzhou 12 crewmates, exit the Tianhe Core Module to complete the first spacewalk outside China's space station. This was on Saturday, July 3, 2021.Two astronauts are the first to work outside China's orbit station. This is only the second spacewalk in China's history.Tang Hongbo and Liu Boming began the extravehicular activity (EVA), lasting six hours and 46 minutes on Saturday, July 3 at 8:11 PM EDT (0011 GMT) or 8:11 AM Beijing Time on July 4. Three hours later, Tang was the first to leave the Tianhe ("Harmony of the Heavens") core space station module.The two Shenzhou 12 crewmates wore upgraded Chinese Feitian spacesuits and equipped the space station to support future activities.Video: China's first space station crew enters Tianhe moduleLiu initially worked alone and attached a platform and foot restraint to the station's robotic arm, which measures 33 feet (10 meters) in length. He then mounted the arm by himself. Nie Haisheng, Shenzhou 12 commander, tested the arm's controls and moved Liu inside the Tianhe Module.Tang was tethered along the space station's exterior to the handrails. Later, Liu joined Tang in the extension of a panoramic camera. The robotic arm assisted them in installing other EVA equipment."After approximately 7 hours of outside activities, the Shenzhou 12 astronauts working closely together successfully completed every scheduled task during the spacewalk," China’s Manned Space Agency said at the end.Pictures: The most famous spacewalks of historyTang Honbo (12 Shenzhou) is seen in a Feitian spacesuit floating inside the docking hub at the Tianhe core module. He is awaiting his exit from China's space station on July 3, 2021. Image credit: CCTVLiu and Tang completed their spacewalk at 2 :57 AM EDT (0657 GMT, 2:57 PM Beijing time)A second spacewalk is planned later in the Shenzhou 12 mission. It launched on June 16 with Nie, Liu, and Tang. It is expected to last for three months. EVAs are testing procedures and preparing the station for expansion with two laboratory modules that will be launched in 2022.Zhai Zhigang (commander of the Shenzhou 7 missions) performed China's first ever spacewalk in 2008. Zhai Zhigang, commander of the Shenzhou 7 mission, was also part of that mission's team. Liu performed a standup EVA while wearing a Russian Orlan spacesuit.Related: China's latest space newsLiu Boming, Shenzhou 12 spacewalker, positions himself to mount the robotic arm's end outside China's space station on July 3, 2020. (Image credit CCTV)The Chinese Feitian suits, which are called "flying to Space", are very similar to the Orlan. The portable life support system can also be used as a rear-entry hatch to the spacesuit. The helmets of the Feitian are equipped with cameras that broadcast a first-person view, similar to NASA's extravehicular activ unit (EMU).The Shenzhou 12 crew members have been working on spacewalks and configuring the Tianhe core modules' systems, participating in science experiments, and taking part in video downlinks.The T-shaped Tiangong ("Heavenly Palace") spacestation will be China's first multimodule space station. China plans to invite foreign partners to the orbiting outpost to collaborate with them in research and crew training.Follow collectSPACE.com via Facebook and Twitter @collectSPACE. Copyright 2021 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.
