Beijing: Astronaut wang Yaping became the first Chinese woman to walk in space, officials said Monday, as her team completed a six-hour stint outside space. tiangong space station as part of its ongoing construction.
Tiangong – meaning “heavenly palace” – is the latest achievement in China’s campaign to become a major space power, after landing a rover and sending a probe to Mars. Moon.
Its main module entered orbit earlier this year, with the station expected to be operational by 2022.
Wang and his colleagues Zhai Zhigang Got out of the module on Sunday night – waving towards the camera while tethering outside the station – and installed a suspension device and transfer connector.
“This is the first paranormal activity by the Shenzhou-13 crew, and also the participation of the first female astronaut in China’s space history,” the China Manned Space Agency said in a statement early Monday.
“The whole process was smooth and successful,” the agency added, declaring it over.
Tiangong is expected to serve for at least 10 years, and the three astronauts are the second group to live there. Wang is the first woman to travel.
Mission Commander Zhai is a former fighter pilot who conducted China’s first spacewalk in 2008.
Sunday’s operation came just weeks after Wang, Zhai and third team member Ye Guangfu exploded from the Jiuquan Launch Center in northwestern China’s Gobi Desert.
He, who stayed inside during the walk to support his comrades, is a pilot of the People’s Liberation Army.
Their work includes setting up equipment and testing technology for future construction, with at least one more spacewalk planned.
The team is expected to spend six months at the station.
The previous record-breaking crew, which made the first mission to Tiangong, returned to Earth in September after spending three months there.
Tiangong – meaning “heavenly palace” – is the latest achievement in China’s campaign to become a major space power, after landing a rover and sending a probe to Mars. Moon.
Its main module entered orbit earlier this year, with the station expected to be operational by 2022.
Wang and his colleagues Zhai Zhigang Got out of the module on Sunday night – waving towards the camera while tethering outside the station – and installed a suspension device and transfer connector.
“This is the first paranormal activity by the Shenzhou-13 crew, and also the participation of the first female astronaut in China’s space history,” the China Manned Space Agency said in a statement early Monday.
“The whole process was smooth and successful,” the agency added, declaring it over.
Tiangong is expected to serve for at least 10 years, and the three astronauts are the second group to live there. Wang is the first woman to travel.
Mission Commander Zhai is a former fighter pilot who conducted China’s first spacewalk in 2008.
Sunday’s operation came just weeks after Wang, Zhai and third team member Ye Guangfu exploded from the Jiuquan Launch Center in northwestern China’s Gobi Desert.
He, who stayed inside during the walk to support his comrades, is a pilot of the People’s Liberation Army.
Their work includes setting up equipment and testing technology for future construction, with at least one more spacewalk planned.
The team is expected to spend six months at the station.
The previous record-breaking crew, which made the first mission to Tiangong, returned to Earth in September after spending three months there.
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