Chinese astronauts successfully enhanced the debris shielding of the Tiangong space station during a spacewalk that lasted 6.5 hours on August 15, 2025. The operation involved two astronauts from the Shenzhou 20 mission, who completed their tasks and returned safely to the station at 9:27 a.m. EDT (14:47 UTC, or 10:47 p.m. local time in Beijing).

This mission marked at least the second time the crew has focused on adding “debris protection” devices to the three-module space station, following similar efforts on May 22, 2025. The astronauts, known as taikonauts, included commander Chen Dong and Wang Jie, who undertook various responsibilities outside Tiangong, including inspecting and maintaining its exterior equipment, as reported by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) through state-run broadcaster CCTV.

Significant Spacewalk Milestone

Chen Dong’s participation in this spacewalk was particularly notable, as it was his sixth, making him the most experienced Chinese astronaut in this regard, according to CMSA officials. The third member of the Shenzhou 20 crew, Chen Zhongrui, supported the duo from within the confines of the station.

The Shenzhou 20 crew is currently more than halfway through their planned six-month stay in orbit, following their launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on April 24, 2025. During their time aboard Tiangong, they have engaged in a variety of scientific experiments across fields such as life sciences, microgravity physics, space material science, space medicine, and aerospace technology, according to the CMSA.

Progress and Future Plans

In a separate statement, CMSA confirmed that the Tiangong space station is operating stably and that all three crew members are in good health. Friday’s extravehicular activity (EVA) was the third for the Shenzhou 20 mission, which has also seen the departure of one cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou 8, and the arrival of another, Tianzhou 9.

The Shenzhou 20 mission is the ninth crewed mission to visit the Tiangong space station, which is approximately 20% the mass of the International Space Station and features a T-shaped design. China successfully completed the assembly of the station in October 2022 and is considering the addition of further modules in future missions.

As the astronauts continue their work, their contributions not only enhance the capabilities of Tiangong but also pave the way for future advancements in China’s space exploration efforts.