China’s Astronauts Complete Long-Duration Spacewalk, Breaking World Record
China’s Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, crew members of the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight, completed a nine-hour spacewalk on Tuesday, beating the previous world record of eight hours and 56 minutes set by US astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms in 2001. The extravehicular activity, also known as a spacewalk, was carried out just before 10 p.m. Beijing time.
China has been making significant strides in its ambitious space program, with a goal of establishing itself as a major player in the industry. In recent years, the China National Space Administration has conducted a series of complex robotic lunar missions, including the first-ever return of lunar samples from the far side of the moon earlier this year.
The country is also working towards becoming the second to land on the moon, with a mission planned for 2030. China has unveiled a specially designed spacesuit for the mission, which is part of its effort to increase its presence in space. The country’s space program is not only focused on scientific benefits but also on securing resources and national security. With this latest achievement, China continues to make progress on its space ambitions.