16.08.2025
Shenzhou-20 astronauts complete third series of extravehicular activities
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 15, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).(Xinhua/Li Yanchen)
The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The astronaut trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie -- worked for approximately six-and-a-half hours and completed all related tasks at 10:47 p.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a ground control team.
Chen Dong and Wang Jie, tasked with conducting spacewalk operations, completed the installation of debris protection devices and auxiliary extravehicular facilities, as well as the inspection and maintenance of external equipment, according to the CMSA.
To date, Chen Dong has completed six rounds of extravehicular activities, meaning he has conducted the most spacewalk tasks of any Chinese astronaut.
The Shenzhou-20 astronauts have now completed half of their spaceflight journey. The crew is currently making steady progress in various space science experiments.
Next, they will focus on research and technology tests in key areas such as the space life sciences, microgravity fundamental physics, space materials science, space medicine and advanced aerospace technologies, the agency said. ■
This video snapshot captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 15, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong (L) and Wang Jie performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).(Xinhua/Yin Jiajie)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 15, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong (L) and Wang Jie preparing to leave China's orbiting space station for extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).(Xinhua/Li Yanchen)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 15, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).(Xinhua/Li Yanchen)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 15, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).(Xinhua/Li Yanchen)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 15, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).(Xinhua/Li Yanchen)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Aug. 15, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Wang Jie leaving China's orbiting space station for extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).(Xinhua/Li Yanchen)
Quelle: Xinhua
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Tiangong space station taikonauts gain AI support
The three taikonauts on China's orbiting Tiangong space station recently completed their third spacewalk. Unlike their previous missions, they had a new assistant this time around, namely an AI model.
Named after Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King, the large-scale artificial intelligence model called Wukong AI was delivered to the Chinese space station by the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft on July 15, along with new-generation spacesuits, fresh fruits and other supplies for the crew in orbit, the China Astronaut Research and Training Center said on Saturday.
Built on a home-grown open-source AI model, Wukong AI is designed to meet the requirements of manned space missions. It has developed a large language model tailored for professional fields and features a knowledge base centered on aerospace flight standards.
The Shenzhou-20 crew members in orbit had already used this AI model to assist in preparations for this past Friday's extravehicular activities. Commander Chen Dong and taikonaut Wang Jie asked Wukong AI for the work schedule a day before conducting their third spacewalk. The AI system quickly replied with relevant links and guidance.
"The content it offered is highly comprehensive," Wang said.
This marks the first time that China's space station has applied and verified large-scale AI model technology. Wukong AI has been operating stably in orbit for one month, while the Shenzhou-20 taikonauts have given positive feedback, said Zou Pengfei, a center staff member.
Zou highlighted that Wukong AI combines both ground and space models in an intelligent question-answering system, with the ground model offering in-depth analysis and the orbiting one solving critical and complex challenges.
In addition, this space-grade AI can deliver fast and accurate support through scenario-based data processing, optimization techniques and customized search strategies. Another feature of the system is that it can be quickly reconfigured and expanded to handle mission planning, data analysis and smart forecasting.
"This system can provide rapid and effective information support for complex operations and fault handling by crew members, improving work efficiency, in-orbit psychological support and coordination between space and ground teams," Zou said.
According to footage released by Chinese media outlets, the AI's interface features a cartoon Monkey King wearing a spacesuit, floating above Earth. The orbiting space station can be seen drifting next to him, while a greeting above his head reads: "Hello, I'm Wukong."
In the classic novel "Journey to the West," Sun Wukong is a symbol of agility and intelligence.
The Shenzhou-20 crew, consisting of commander Chen Dong and taikonauts Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, successfully completed their third spacewalk on Friday. The mission lasted approximately 6.5 hours and was conducted through coordinated efforts between the in-orbit robotic arm and the ground control team, the China Manned Space Agency said.
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 19.08.2025
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Extravehicular spacesuit of China's space station supports 20 EVAs
The extravehicular spacesuit B, worn by astronaut Chen Dong on Aug. 15 during the third series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) of the Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station, has supported 20 EVAs, according to the China Astronaut Research and Training Center on Monday.
The suit thus became the first of its kind on China's space station to achieve the lifespan extension goal of supporting 20 EVAs within 4 years.
The extravehicular spacesuit B of China's space station has been used by 11 astronauts during eight manned spaceflight missions, according to Zhang Wanxin from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
An extravehicular spacesuit is the core equipment for astronauts during EVAs in space, ensuring their safety and enabling efficient operations outside the cabin.
The second-generation Feitian extravehicular spacesuit aboard China's space station has a service life of three years of storage in orbit, during which it can be used for EVAs no less than 15 times, in accordance with its design standards.
The extravehicular spacesuit of China's space station is the first flight product in China to conduct in-orbit lifespan assessment and extended use.
On July 15, Tianzhou-9 cargo craft delivered a new batch of supplies to China's space station, including two sets of second-generation Feitian extravehicular spacesuits, identified as D and E.
Extravehicular spacesuits D and E have been unpacked and inspected, and are in good condition. They will be gradually put into use in future EVAs, Zhang said.
Compared with the country's first-generation Feitian extravehicular spacesuits, the second-generation extravehicular spacesuits feature key technological breakthroughs. They have a longer lifespan, are safer and more reliable, and more efficient in supporting astronauts' operations, providing strong support to the EVAs during the construction and operation of China's space station, according to Zhang.
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 28.09.2025
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Shenzhou-20 taikonauts complete fourth series of extravehicular activities
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 25, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Wang Jie performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
The Shenzhou-20 taikonaut crew on China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday morning, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie -- worked for approximately six hours and had completed all tasks by 1:35 a.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and ground-based researchers.
Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, tasked with conducting spacewalk operations, completed the installation of space debris protection devices and the inspection of external equipment, the CMSA said.
The agency noted that this marked the first time that two members of China's third batch of taikonauts had jointly carried out a spacewalk.
To date, the orbiting Shenzhou-20 crew has completed four rounds of extravehicular activities -- making it one of the two Chinese crews to have conducted the most extravehicular missions.
The Shenzhou-20 crew has been in orbit for more than 150 days. As planned, they will also carry out a large number of scientific experiments and technological tests.
The three taikonauts will celebrate the upcoming National Day (Oct. 1) and Mid-Autumn Festival (Oct. 6) on the Chinese space station Tiangong, the agency said. ■
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 25, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronauts Wang Jie (L) and Chen Zhongrui working inside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 25, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong working inside China's space station combination. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 25, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong working inside China's space station combination. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 25, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Zhongrui working inside China's space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 25, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Wang Jie performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 5.11.2025
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Shenzhou-20 crew to return to Earth on Nov. 5
China's Shenzhou-20 crew has completed its in-orbit handover with the Shenzhou-21 crew and is scheduled to return to Earth on Nov. 5.
The two crews held a handover ceremony and transferred the keys of the country's space station on Tuesday.
So far, the Shenzhou-20 trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie -- have completed all their planned tasks and are set to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
At present, the landing site and all supporting systems are undergoing preparations to welcome the astronauts back, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Quelle: Xinhua
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China's "mice astronauts" and their challenging journey to space
Footage of four mice living aboard China's space station alongside the Shenzhou-21 astronaut crew has recently been transmitted back to Earth, revealing these small animals in good spirits and in an apparent state of well-being.
The video shows astronauts retrieving the experiment facilities containing the mice from a specialized transport bag. They then installed the facilities in orbit and connected them to the power supply. Once activated, the device maintained a stable internal temperature of around 26 degrees Celsius.
In the footage, the mice can be seen taking turns resting in shelter nests inside the facilities and occasionally climbing actively along the cage walls -- appearing lively and well-adapted.
They quickly located the rodent food and began eating while making slight head movements, exhibiting normal feeding behavior after their arrival on the space station. The shelter nests also proved functional, offering the mice a sense of security.
When the facilities were initially unpacked, floating feces and food debris were visible inside. After powering on the facilities, directional air flow within them was activated to blow hair, feces and other garbage toward a sticky surface at the bottom -- ensuring a clean and hygienic environment for the mice.
As a key model animal in the field of life sciences, mice feature several advantages -- high genetic similarity to humans, small body size and short reproductive cycle, and a high amenability to genetic modification, said Huang Kun, an expert from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
"These traits make them ideal for studying physiological and pathological processes, as well as the growth, development and reproduction of living organisms in space," he said.
To qualify as "animal astronauts," the mice underwent a series of rigorous tests designed to evaluate their physical and psychological adaptability.
The first stage assessed physical fitness, with the mice placed on a specially designed "exercise bike" -- essentially an accelerating rotating rod, where they had to maintain their position for a set duration. This tested their strength, endurance and grip.
The next challenge focused on motion sickness resistance. Using a two-dimensional rotating device, researchers exposed the mice to multi-directional, prolonged spinning -- helping them adapt to conditions that could cause space motion sickness.
Behavioral screening was also conducted. By suspending the mice upside down, researchers observed their struggle response, selecting those that actively resisted -- identified as the more resilient "optimists." Maze tests further evaluated their spatial cognition and adaptive skills, ensuring they could navigate and find food even in a weightless environment.
According to experts, after completing all tests, the mice were transferred into compact cages that simulated the space cabin environment. This allowed them to acclimate to the confined living conditions they would experience in orbit. Ultimately, the four best-performing mice earned their "boarding passes" to space.
By collecting preliminary data on stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in microgravity -- scientists may end up using such observations to decode how weightlessness and enclosed space influence mice behaviors.
After completing their orbital mission, the "mice astronauts" will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-20 spaceship for further analysis.
"The findings will be critical to assessing the feasibility of long-term human survival and reproduction in space -- and may also deliver insights beneficial to human health on Earth," Huang said, while noting that the experiment will represent a major step forward in China's space life science research capabilities.
Quelle: Xinhua
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Astronauts barbecue chicken wings, steaks in China's space station
Aboard China's space station, the hot air oven delivered by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft has begun baking, as a viral video showed astronauts savoring freshly cooked chicken wings and steaks for the first time.
In the video beamed down from the space station, Shenzhou-21 crew member and space engineer Wu Fei is seen taking marinated chicken wings from a package, placing them on a skewer rack, and sliding them into the oven, which, after about 28 minutes, produced a plate of sizzling, space-made New Orleans chicken wings.
Wang Jie from the Shenzhou-20 crew and Wu Fei, both hailing from north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- renowned for its high-quality beef and mutton -- also baked a plate of black pepper steaks. The chicken wings and steaks were soon shared among the six astronauts, with their faces beaming with delight.
The Shenzhou-21 spaceship was launched on late Friday and its three crew members entered the space station hours later. They have spent several days living and working alongside the Shenzhou-20 crew, who are scheduled to return to Earth on Nov. 5.
The space oven has been significantly upgraded compared with conventional ovens on Earth. According to Liu Weibo from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, the improvements include technologies for precise temperature control, residue collection, high-temperature catalysis, and multi-layer filtration, enabling smoke-free baking in orbit while meeting the space station's oil fume emission standards.
The oven and its purification system also underwent rigorous testing to ensure they meet the space station's access conditions and can operate continuously and reliably for up to 500 cycles.
Using the oven to prepare food marks the latest advancement in the life support system of China's space station. According to the center, the Shenzhou-21 mission has expanded the food variety to over 190 items and extended the menu cycle to 10 days, allowing astronauts to cook and bake ingredients such as fresh vegetables, nuts, cakes and meat while in orbit.
Liu said that after spending several months in the relatively confined space of the station, being able to enjoy aromatic chicken wings and steaks, or freshly baked peanuts and bread prepared by themselves, would surely bring the astronauts a sense of happiness.
Since China's manned space program entered the phase of space station application and development, ground researchers have continuously improved the variety, texture, flavor, appearance and nutritional value of space food through technological innovation and process enhancements, better meeting the dietary needs of astronauts.
In addition, new progress has been made in the space station's vegetable garden. Since the Shenzhou-16 mission, the center has carried out research and verification on in-orbit plant substrate cultivation. By using regenerative substrate, long-term controlled-release fertilizer and microporous water conduction technology, the garden has achieved effective supply of water and nutrients under microgravity conditions.
So far, 10 batches of seven plant species, including lettuce, cherry tomatoes and sweet potatoes, have been cultivated, providing astronauts with 4.5 kg of fresh fruits and vegetables. Among them, lettuce and cherry tomatoes have achieved a full-cycle cultivation from seed to seed.
"We prepared feasts for the astronauts for traditional Chinese festivals such as the Spring Festival, and there are even gift packages that can only be opened on the day of the festival," said Zang Peng from the center.
Quelle: Xinhua
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China tests inflatable space factory, eyes in-orbit manufacturing
A team of Chinese scientists has completed the ground tests of an inflatable, reconfigurable module for a novel space manufacturing platform, in a significant step toward enabling large-scale industrial production in orbit.
The breakthrough module, details of which were announced on Monday, has an innovative design that is intended for launch in a tightly folded configuration and inflates once in orbit to form a large, stable workspace, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Test images have revealed that the expanded module forms a cylindrical structure over 2 meters in diameter. Researchers say the expandable structure makes it an ideal candidate for future space-based manufacturing, including areas such as biopharmaceuticals, 3D printing and the production of novel materials.
The field tests involved achieving a reliable, airtight connection between rigid structures and the flexible habitat; precise, controlled deployment in a microgravity environment; and ensuring the inflated module provides a sufficiently stable environment for high-precision manufacturing tasks.
Typically, orbital platforms are constrained by launch-vehicle size and costly to build, and experience difficulty expanding in space.
"This technology will push space manufacturing from proof-of-concept toward engineering reality," said project lead Yang Yiqiang from the CAS' Institute of Mechanics. "In the future, the utilization of space resources will be more accessible."
Quelle: Xinhua