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The astronauts will stay in space for about six months, the longest duration for a Chinese crewed mission.
After launching on a Long March-2F carrier rocket and entering orbit, the Shenzhou 13 spacecraft will conduct an automated rendezvous and docking with the nadir port of the space station's core module "Tianhe," forming a complex with the module and the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2 and Tianzhou-3.
China has launched its second crewed expedition to its new space station to continue preparing the orbital outpost for its planned expansion.
Astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu lifted off on board China's Shenzhou 13 spacecraft on Friday (Oct. 15) on a six-month mission to live and work aboard the Tianhe ("Harmony of the Heavens") core module of the Tiangong ("Heavenly Palace") space station. The crew rode atop a Long March-2F rocket that was launched at 12:23 p,m. EDT (1623 GMT or 12:23 a.m. on Oct. 16 Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Robert Pearlman
Shenzhou 13 taikonauts conduct first spacewalk
Two Chinese taikonauts ventured outside of China's space station on Sunday (Nov. 7) to perform the first extravehicular activity (EVA) of the Shenzhou 13 mission.
Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping began the spacewalk at 6:51 p.m. Beijing time (5:51 a.m. EST or 1051 GMT) with Zhai opening the hatch of the Tianhe core module. The six-and-a-half-hour excursion was completed at 1:01 a.m. Beijing time on Nov. 8 (12:01 p.m. EST or 1701 GMT on Nov. 7).
During the spacewalk, Zhai and Wang added a grapple fixture and adapter to the station's robotic arm. Wang also tested working in China's upgraded Feitian spacesuit while mounted on the end of the arm.
The EVA marks the first time that a Chinese woman, Wang, has walked in space. The outing is Zhai's second, having conducted China's first spacewalk during the Shenzhou 7 mission 13 years ago.
Robert Pearlman
Shenzhou 13 taikonauts conduct second spacewalk
Chinese astronauts on Sunday (Dec. 26) conducted a spacewalk for the second time during the Shenzhou 13 mission.
Ye Guangfu began the spacewalk at 6:44 p.m. Beijing time (5:44 a.m. EST or 1044 GMT) with Zhai Zhigang following later. The 6 hour, 11 minute excursion was completed at 12:55 a.m. Beijing time on Dec. 27 (11:55 a.m. EST or 1655 GMT on Dec. 26).
During the spacewalk, Ye and Zhai deployed a camera platform and confirmed autonomous object transfers.
The EVA was Ye's first and Zhai's third. Zhai has now logged 12 hours and 58 minutes in the vacuum of space, including 22 minutes on China's first spacewalk during the Shenzhou 7 mission 13 years ago.
Three Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth after a record-long stay on their country's first space station.
Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu landed aboard their Shenzhou 13 spacecraft on Friday (April 15), completing the second crewed expedition to China's Tiangong space station. They touched down at about 9:57 p.m. EDT (0157 GMT or 9:57 a.m. Beijing Time on April 16) within the Dongfeng landing zone in the Gobi Desert in Inner Mongolia.
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