Record set as taikonauts shore up space station

The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China's space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The astronauts – Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang – worked for roughly five-and-a-half hours and completed their tasks at 1.36am, assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth. They completed the installation of space debris protection equipment and the inspection of extravehicular equipment. Zhang Lu and Wu Fei, who conducted spacewalk operations, returned safely to the Wentian lab module. To date, Zhang Lu has conducted seven extravehicular activities, setting a new record for the most spacewalks by a Chinese astronaut. The agency disclosed that since the second round of extra-vehicular activities on March 16, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts have been steadily advancing their experimental missions in space life science, human body research and microgravity physics. They have continued to conduct station environmental monitoring, equipment inspection and maintenance, and supply organisation. The crew has also completed full-system pressure emergency drills, in-orbit emergency rescue training and extravehicular activity preparations. To date, the three astronauts have been in orbit for over five months and are operating in good working and living conditions. After a thorough analysis and evaluation, the agency plans to extend the in-orbit stay of the Shenzhou-21 crew by approximately one month so as to further verify the technologies regarding the long-term stay of astronauts in orbit and fully use the supplies delivered by the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft in an emergency launch. (Xinhua) Edited by Tony Sabine