Shenzhou-21 astronauts complete third series of extravehicular activities

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The astronaut trio -- Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang -- worked for roughly 5.5 hours and completed their tasks at 1:36 a.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth.

To date, Zhang Lu has conducted a total of 7 extravehicular activities, setting a new record for the most spacewalks by a Chinese astronaut. ■

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronaut Wu Fei performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 16, 2026 shows Shenzhou-21 astronauts Wu Fei (L) and Zhang Lu preparing to perform extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside China's orbiting space station. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)