Experienced taikonauts Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo conducted China's second-ever spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station this weekend. Over nearly seven hours, they performed critical maintenance and assembly tasks, showcasing the nation's advancing space capabilities.
Just weeks ago, China launched its first crewed mission to the core module of its new space station. Taikonauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo are set to spend three months aboard during the Shenzhou-12 mission. On Sunday at 8:11 a.m. Beijing time, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo initiated a six-hour and 46-minute extravehicular activity (EVA). Liu Boming exited the core module first, with Tang Hongbo joining him about three hours later.
Wearing advanced Feitian spacesuits, the duo installed essential tools for future operations. Liu Boming secured a footrest and platform to the station's 10-meter robotic arm before mounting it himself. Together, they deployed a panoramic camera and additional equipment using the arm.
“After about 7 hours of outdoor activities, the two Shenzhou-12 taikonauts worked seamlessly to complete all scheduled tasks during the spacewalk,” the China Manned Space Agency announced upon EVA completion.
This marked only the second spacewalk in China's space program history, following Zhai Zhigang's pioneering EVA during the Shenzhou-7 mission in 2008—with Liu Boming as a crew member then. A third spacewalk (China's fourth overall) is planned soon.
Once complete, Tiangong (“Heavenly Palace”) will become China's first multi-module space station, hosting Chinese crews and international partners. Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin has expressed interest in sending cosmonauts there.
