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Chinese astronauts Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo are seen doing extravehicular activities (EVAs) out of China's space station core module Tianhe on July 4, 2021. /Xinhua
The three Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, currently in the Tianhe core module of China's space station are set to carry out a second round of extravehicular activities (EVAs), China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Tuesday.
Their major tasks include lifting a panoramic camera and installing a set of parts that will be used when the space station is to be expanded with more modules in the future.
On August 16, the crew and the ground astronaut support system jointly conducted a full-procedure rehearsal for the second EVAs, operated the robotic arm and get more familiar with the whole procedures.
The three taikonauts cooperated to complete the first EVAs on July 4, during which Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo went outside the cabin while Nie Haisheng, commander of the mission, stayed inside the core module to support the pair's operation outside.
The first spacewalk lasted for about seven hours. The team accomplished scheduled tasks including installing a lifting bracket for one of the extravehicular panoramic cameras, foot restraint and workbench on the robotic arm and other equipment.
Chinese astronauts Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo are seen doing extravehicular activities (EVAs) out of China's space station core module Tianhe on July 4, 2021. /Xinhua
Compared with the first spacewalk, there will be a change in the personnel who will go out of the cabin, Wu Dawei, deputy chief designer of China's astronaut system, told China Media Group. But the exact lineup has not been revealed yet.
Because of the personnel adjustment, the crew has adjusted the sizes of the extravehicular spacesuits, changed the gloves, and replenished the consumables carried by the spacesuits.
In order to make sure that the taikonauts are in good physical condition during the eight-hour long spacewalk, they have done a series of health checks including cardiopulmonary function checks and routine urine tests, according to Wu.
The crew is in good health and the Tianhe core module is running stably, which are pre-conditions for the next spacewalk, the CMSA said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
