Shenzhou 18 Astronauts Complete Spacewalk
Summary: On July 26, 2026, the Shenzhou 18 astronaut crew completed a spacewalk at the China Space Station, performing equipment installation and other tasks.
On July 26, 2026, the Shenzhou 18 astronaut crew successfully completed a spacewalk at the China Space Station. According to CCTV News, the primary objectives of the extravehicular activity (EVA) included the installation of equipment outside the station and related maintenance tasks. The astronauts, wearing China's domestically developed new-generation Feitian extravehicular mobility units, exited through the station's airlock module and carried out the planned operations with the assistance of the robotic arm.
This EVA was among those conducted by the Shenzhou 18 crew since their arrival at the China Space Station. Throughout the spacewalk, the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center provided real-time monitoring and commanding to ensure the safety and success of all operations. As reported, the astronauts safely returned to the interior of the station after working outside for several hours, and the mission was declared a complete success.
Since the completion and operationalization of the China Space Station, multiple spacewalks have been carried out for purposes ranging from installing and maintaining extravehicular experimental equipment to mounting space debris protection devices. The Shenzhou 18 crew's EVA further demonstrated the astronauts' capability to perform complex extravehicular tasks in orbit and accumulated valuable experience for future EVAs during the station's operational phase. Specific details regarding the duration of the spacewalk and additional mission parameters are pending further disclosure by the China Manned Space Agency.