China Says Astronauts Break Record with 9 Hour Spacewalk
China has made history once again in the field of space exploration, as its astronauts recently completed a record-breaking 9-hour spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station. This achievement marks a significant milestone for China’s ambitious space program and solidifies its position as a major player in the global space race.
The spacewalk, which took place on September 4th, saw two Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts as they are known in China, floating outside the Tiangong space station to perform various tasks. The astronauts, Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping, spent a total of 9 hours outside the space station, surpassing the previous record of 7 hours and 45 minutes set by the United States in 2001.
During the spacewalk, the taikonauts conducted a series of experiments and tests, including installing equipment, testing new technology, and conducting maintenance tasks on the exterior of the space station. The successful completion of the spacewalk demonstrates China’s growing expertise in space exploration and its ability to carry out complex operations in the harsh environment of space.
The Tiangong space station, which was launched in April 2021, is China’s first permanent space station and is expected to be fully operational by 2022. The space station is a key component of China’s ambitious plans for space exploration, which include crewed missions to the moon and Mars in the coming years.
China’s space program has been making rapid progress in recent years, with a series of successful launches and missions. In 2020, China became the first country to successfully land a rover on the far side of the moon, and in 2021, it sent a rover to Mars, becoming only the second country to do so.
The success of the recent spacewalk is a testament to China’s determination and capabilities in space exploration. It not only demonstrates the country’s technological prowess but also its commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and pushing the boundaries of human achievement.
As China continues to make strides in space exploration, it is clear that the country is on track to become a major player in the global space race. With ambitious plans for future missions and projects, China is poised to make even greater contributions to the exploration of space in the years to come.