Chinese Astronauts Set New Record for Longest Spacewalk, Surpassing 23-Year Achievement

In a groundbreaking achievement, Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong shattered the world record for the longest single spacewalk, completing a nine-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) aboard the Tiangong space station. 

The previous record of eight hours and 56 minutes was set in 2001 by NASA astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms. 

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed the success of the EVA, during which the astronauts installed protective equipment to shield Tiangong from space debris and performed critical maintenance on the station's exterior. The agency declared the operation a "full success," further bolstering China’s ambitions in space exploration. 

The mission was particularly significant for Song Lingdong, a former fighter pilot with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Born in the 1990s, Song became the first Chinese astronaut of his generation to undertake a spacewalk. 

“I have exited the cabin and feel great,” he stated in a video released by CMSA, marking a personal and professional milestone. 

For mission commander Cai Xuzhe, the spacewalk was his second extravehicular activity, following a 5.5-hour EVA during the Shenzhou-14 mission in November 2022. His leadership was instrumental in the mission's success. 

China's foray into spacewalks began in 2008 when astronaut Zhai Zhigang performed the country's first EVA, spending nearly 20 minutes outside the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft. 

Over the years, advancements in the Feitian spacesuit, now in its second generation, have allowed for significantly longer durations outside the spacecraft. The suits, capable of supporting up to eight hours of external work, played a pivotal role in this latest record-breaking mission. 

Earlier this year, astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-18 mission set a national record with an 8.5-hour spacewalk, a benchmark now surpassed by Cai and Song. These achievements reflect China's methodical progress in space exploration, with 17 spacewalks completed since 2008. 

China’s ambitions extend far beyond record-breaking feats. The nation has been systematically building its credentials as a space power, conducting complex lunar missions and planning its first crewed moon landing by 2030. A specially designed spacesuit for lunar exploration was unveiled earlier this year, signaling the country’s commitment to this goal. 

The Tiangong space station itself represents a cornerstone of China’s space program. Since its T-shaped configuration was completed in 2022, it has served as a hub for scientific research and technical experiments. 

Among the ongoing studies is an investigation involving fruit flies, delivered to the station by the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft. Scientists aim to understand the effects of long-term space exploration on living organisms—a key step in preparing for extended human presence in space. 

The Shenzhou-19 crew has been aboard Tiangong for nearly 50 days, with their mission scheduled to continue until late April or early May 2025. 

They are expected to conduct additional spacewalks and experiments before returning to Earth. Their landing site has been confirmed as the Dongfeng site in Inner Mongolia.