By 
September 1st, 2022
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Shenzhou-14 crew conducted their first EVA tasks, venturing out of the airlock cabin of the Wentian lab module.
Shenzhou-14 astronauts Chen Dong and Liu Yang carried out spacewalk tasks with Cai Xuzhe assisting the pair from inside the Tianhe core module.
During their first EVAs, expected to last about seven hours, Chen and Liu conducted tasks outside the lab module, including installing protective cables, setting up the expansion pumps, raising the panoramic cameras, and assembling the extravehicular toolbox, according to China Central Television (CCTV).
Shenzhou-14 crew enters new lab module. Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)/China Media Group(CMG)/China Central Television (CCTV)/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Three-module structure
The three Chinese astronauts have been working and living in orbit for 88 days since they were sent into space onboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship and entered the combination of the country’s space station on June 5.
The combination of the space station is currently formed by the Tianhe core module, the Wentian lab module, the Shenzhou-14 spaceship and the Tianzhou-4 cargo craft.
During their six-month stay in orbit, the Shenzhou-14 crew will cooperate with ground control to complete the assembly and construction of the space station, expanding it from the foundational core module Tianhe into a basic T-shaped three-module structure, with Tianhe in the center and the two lab modules Wentian and Mengtian on each side of it.
The Mengtian lab module is set to be launched in October by way of a Long March 5B booster.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Onboard duties
Since arriving at the in-construction Tiangong space station in June, CCTV reports that the Shenzhou-14 have transferred material and supplies, completed in-orbit test work of the Wentian lab module experiment platform, unlocked and tested operation of experiment cabinets, conducted in-orbit tests of the functions of the small mechanical arm outside Wentian with the support of the ground team and completed space station complex management.
In addition, the crew completed routine work, such as medical examination, weightlessness protection training and performed scientific experiments. Training sessions included emergency evacuation, small mechanical arm operation, and medical rescue, CCTV notes.
Station complete is set for year’s end.
Credit: CNAS/CCTV Video News Agency/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China launched Wentian, the first lab module of its space station, on July 24. The Tianhe core module was launched in April 2021. The construction of the Tiangong space station is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Foot restraint
Fan Ziqi, chief engineer for aerospace product design of the department of assembly and environmental engineering at the China Academy of Space Technology told CCTV: “In the extravehicular activity this time, the foot restraint will be installed on the smaller robotic arm, which has a seating on the end of the arm. After getting out of the module, the astronaut will grab the foot restraint and install on the smaller arm.”
Fan added that after installing the foot restraint, the astronaut will proceed to hold the extravehicular workbench and insert it into one side of the foot restraint. “Equipment for transfer, including tools, can be placed on the extravehicular workbench which has quite a number of connectors on it.”
When standing on the seating, the astronauts can make a 360-degree turn while performing their extravehicular activities.
“The airlock cabin on the Wentian module is relatively large. Previously with the core module, the extravehicular workbench would be assembled outside of the module. This time, with the Wentian, the three sections of extravehicular workbench will be assembled inside the cabin and then moved outside the cabin to be installed on the foot restraint,” Fan said.
For CCTV videos of this spacewalk, go to:
Posted in Space News
