By 
April 18th, 2026
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China’s orbiting Tiangong space station completed their mission’s third series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) on April 17.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), Zhang Lu, the commander of the Shenzhou-21 mission, and Wu Fei conducted the five and a half hour spacewalk, then returned to the space station’s Wentian lab module safely.
Zhang Hongzhang assisted the spacewalking duo from inside the orbital outpost.
The spacewalk included the completion of installing a space debris protection device for the space station, along with facility inspections, among other tasks.
Shenzhou-21 crew – extended stay.
Image credit: CMSA/CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Extended stay
It has been decided, after careful evaluation and assessment, that the Shenzhou-21 crew’s stay in orbit will be extended by approximately one month.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), the extended stay is “to further validate technologies related to long-term human habitation in orbit and to maximize the comprehensive benefits of using the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft as an emergency launch vehicle to resupply the space station.”
The Shenzhou-21 crew will reportedly now return to Earth in early June.
For details on the third spacewalk, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1707059167126941
Also go to this video detailing upcoming Chinese space activity, at:
Posted in Space News
