What a beautiful scene! One astronaut on a long robotic arm. Another climbing on a 20t space station module. All with the blue marble as the backdrop.
The 15m-long robotic arm
More of the 1m-long robotic arm of China Space Station
This long piece is the inter-module connecting device
Astronaut CHEN Dong and CAI Xuzhe working on the inter-module connecting device
The connection device between Wentian and Tianhe has been installed. Now working on the one between Mengtian and Tianhe. These long pieces with handrails are to establish passage for astronauts to climb along in future spacewalks.
Look, #Shenzhou14 crew are now carrying out their third #EVAs!At 11:16 a.m. Beijing time Thursday, the airlock cabin’s door was opened. Chen Dong is the first to go，and he is followed by Cai Xuzhe, while Liu Yang is staying inside the module for coordination work.
Installation of Mengtian-Tianhe connecting device completed. Now astronauts will return to Wentian Laboratory to raise a camera.
Introduction of the inter-module bridge, which measures 2.6m long and weighs ~15kg. (the photographer chose a perfect angle so that most part of the device is covered by the chyron)
Oh, it seems the one between Wentian and Tianhe is 3.2m long and the other one between Mengtian and Tianhe is 2.6m long.
The first dozen minutes of the EVA:
Well done!After about 5 hours and a half, #Shenzhou14 crew members concluded their #EVAs at 16:50 (Beijing Time) on Thursday, with all tasks completed! Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe have returned to the Wentian lab module.
China's Shenzhou-14 astronauts, or taikonauts, completed their third round of extravehicular activities (EVAs) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.It was the first round of EVAs for the crew after the assembly of the station's basic T-shape configuration.Taikonauts Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe exited the cabin, and Liu Yang stayed inside the cabin for support. The EVAs lasted around 5.5 hours.During the EVAs, the two taikonauts outside the cabin worked together and installed a connection "bridge" between the three modules that could assist taikonauts with crawling outside the module and better stabilize the station's T-shaped structure. Cai, who only had his first space walk in September, tried the first cross-module walk using this bridge.The taikonauts also lifted a panoramic camera outside the Wentian lab module and added a handle on the small robotic arm.This is the seventh round of EVAs at China's space station.The Shenzhou-14 taikonauts successfully completed their first two rounds of EVAs in September, both from the airlock cabin of the Wentian lab module. The first EVAs lasted about seven hours, and the second lasted about five hours.The three Shenzhou-14 crew members were sent into space in June on a record-breaking six-month mission.As planned, the Shenzhou-14 crew will welcome the arrival of the Shenzhou-15 manned spacecraft at the space station later this month. The Shenzhou-15 crew members will join the Shenzhou-14 taikonauts for the space station's first-ever crew handover.
During today’s EVAs, Shenzhou14 crew members sent out a birthday greeting. Who is so lucky to be named？He is #WangYongzhi, the first chief designer of China's manned spaceflight project.In 14 years, he has led many projects including 4 unmanned test flights .
Successful 3rd EVA spacewalk of Shenzhou-14 crews at Tiangong Space Station (CSS). Astronauts Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe finished cabin connection device installation and panorama camera lifting tasks. Full HD:
Happy Weekends from China Space Station. A small mirror was found on taikonauts spacesuit. Photos from Shenzhou 14 spacewalk.
Spectacular! Tiangong Space Station (CSS) viewed from outside by EVA spacewalking Shenzhou-14 astronauts. Full HD:
China will send the first of its third generation of astronauts to Tiangong in 2023, according to Yang Liwei, deputy chief designer of China's human spaceflight program.
