This screen image taken at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on February 9, 2023 shows Shenzhou 15 taikonaut Fei Junlong conducting extravehicular activities EVAs out of the space station lab module Wentian. The astronauts of China's Shenzhou XV crew have completed three spacewalks since their journey into space four months ago, according to the China Manned Space Agency CMSA. The third spacewalk was conducted on Thursday by astronauts Fei Junlong and Zhang Lu, in collaboration with astronaut Deng Qingming, who was inside the space station. The CMSA said that the couple completed all their scheduled tasks before returning safely to the lab module Wentian.
Four crews have completed a total of 10 spacewalks since the Shenzhou XII mission in 2021, mastering a series of key technologies, according to the CMSA. Follow-up extravehicular activities will continue as planned.
The Shenzhou XV crew completed various tasks in the past month, including the in-orbit maintenance of the space station. The thermoelectric convertor of Stirling has completed its in-orbit test. The convertor is expected to be used in future manned lunar missions and deep-space exploration, and will be used in converting thermal energy into electricity with relatively high efficiency and power density, according to the CMSA.
The cargo craft Tianzhou 6 is scheduled to be launched early or mid-May, according to the CMSA, which said it has been transported to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern province of Hainan.