China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts completed a historic 175-day mission aboard the China Space Station, setting a new world record with a single nine-hour spacewalk, the longest ever recorded, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The crew, consisting of Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze, executed three spacewalks and six payload transfers while overcoming unexpected technical challenges, solidifying China’s advancements in space exploration.
Cai Xuzhe emerged as China’s most experienced astronaut for extravehicular activities, completing his fifth spacewalk. Meanwhile, Song Lingdong became the first Chinese astronaut born in the 1990s to venture outside the spacecraft. Wang Haoze marked another milestone as the first female aerospace flight engineer to enter the space station. Their adaptability was tested when a payload adapter malfunctioned during a cargo installation, a problem the team resolved during their inaugural spacewalk to safeguard experiments.
CMSA confirmed the astronauts remain in good health, with all mission objectives achieved. The mission underscores China’s growing capabilities in long-duration space operations and technical problem-solving, offering insights for global space agencies and stakeholders in aerospace industries.
