China bolsters Tiangong space station defenses following Russian satellite explosion

Two astronauts from the Shenzhou-18 mission conducted a spacewalk on the night of July 3 to enhance the protection of China's space station with additional shielding, responding to the debris generated by the explosion of a Russian satellite the previous week.

Liu Ming, from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, explained in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV that the spacewalk mainly centered on installing protective devices on external cables and pipelines. This measure aimed to reduce the risks associated with potential collisions with space debris, thereby improving the long-term safety and stability of the space station, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Following the explosion of the defunct Resurs-P1 Russian Earth observation satellite in orbit on June 26, which resulted in over 100 pieces of trackable debris, US Space Command reported the incident. In response, NASA mission control in Houston instructed six US astronauts aboard the International Space Station to undertake "safe haven" procedures aimed at reducing the risk posed by debris. It remains unclear whether this event influenced China's decision to implement protective measures for its Tiangong space station.

For the spacewalk conducted just before 11 PM Hong Kong time on July 3, a robotic arm positioned astronaut Li Cong at the external equipment site of the space station. Astronaut Ye Guangfu followed, delivering essential equipment and devices to Li. Ye then maneuvered along the station's exterior to reach the work site, where both astronauts collaborated to install the protective devices. Meanwhile, astronaut Li Guangsu monitored the robotic arm's movements from the Tianhe core module, providing operational support throughout the procedure.

After successfully installing the protective devices, Li Cong utilized the robotic arm to position himself at an inspection point. Using his helmet camera, he surveyed and photographed the surface condition of the payload adaptor. Following the 6½-hour mission, astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Cong returned to the Wentian lab module.

Footage broadcast by CCTV captured a relaxed atmosphere among Li and Ye, who were seen engaging in friendly banter and seemingly competing to reach designated spots first. They also appeared to joke about striking poses for the camera during the installation process.

Wu Dawei, from the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, praised the mission, highlighting that "more protective devices were installed this time, which required longer travel from the airlock to the designated points. However, their operation was smooth and effortless."

Li Cong also shared his awe of the Tiangong space station while communicating with Chinese ground control. "Whenever the robotic arm took me to higher points, despite the bright sunlight, I couldn't resist taking a closer look," he remarked, commending the efforts of everyone involved. "It's truly inspiring to witness the grandeur of this project."

"We remain committed to our diligent and efficient work to ensure the smooth completion of future missions."

The Shenzhou-18 crew initially docked with the space station on April 26. During their first spacewalk on May 28, they installed protective devices on the external cables of the Mengtian lab module, as reported by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). This recent mission focused on extending similar protection to the Wentian lab module and the Tianhe core.

This latest outing marked the second extravehicular activity for the three-person crew and the 16th overall for the Chinese space station.

On June 24, two US astronauts experienced an early end to their planned spacewalk due to a water leak in their spacesuits. The mission, which included tasks such as retrieving a malfunctioning part from a communications antenna and collecting microbial samples, was abruptly cut short after about half an hour, far shorter than the nearly seven hours allotted for the tasks.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-18 crew has maintained their schedule, completing one-third of their mission in orbit. They are now preparing to welcome both the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft. The Shenzhou-18 crew is expected to conclude their mission and return to the Dongfeng landing site in northern China by late October.