Shenzhou-23 Astronauts Complete Spacewalk to Repair Solar Wings

Astronauts aboard China's Tiangong space station completed an extravehicular activity lasting approximately 5.5 hours on August 28. Shenzhou-23 crew members Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan stepped outside the Tianhe core module, supported inside by Li Jiaying, ground control, and the robotic arm. The spacewalkers conducted maintenance on the station's solar wings and installed orbital debris shielding, marking China's second on-orbit solar array repair mission to safeguard the station's electrical power supply.

The solar arrays serve as the primary power generation system for the Tiangong space station. Performing targeted repairs and affixing space debris shields directly address vulnerabilities caused by micrometeoroids and orbital fragments, securing reliable power delivery for long-term orbital operations and ongoing scientific research.

The crew of China's Shenzhou-23 mission completed an extravehicular activity (EVA) outside the Tiangong space station on August 28, successfully conducting maintenance on the station's solar wings and installing protective hardware against space debris, according to the China Manned Space Agency. Astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan returned to the Tianhe core module at 1:59 p.m. Beijing time following a spacewalk that lasted approximately 5.5 hours. Inside the station, crew member Li Jiaying coordinated operations alongside ground personnel and operators managing the station's robotic arm. The mission represented Zhu Yangzhu's return to extravehicular operations after three years and marked the first spacewalk for Zhang Zhiyuan. The operation was the first EVA conducted by the Shenzhou-23 crew and the second time Chinese astronauts have carried out extravehicular maintenance on the space station's solar wings. Official reports noted that the repairs and debris shielding installations are intended to ensure the ongoing stability and safety of the station's electrical power generation systems. The three astronauts launched aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft late on May 24 and docked with Tiangong in the early hours of May 25. Having now spent over three months in orbit, the crew has completed an in-orbit crew handover, deployed scientific payloads outside the cabin, and conducted a series of simulated drills, including rendezvous and docking exercises, medical emergency scenarios, and full-system pressure emergency responses. According to official statements, the crew has also maintained routine station platform operations and progressed through a series of experiments in space life sciences, human research, microgravity physics, and new space technologies. The astronauts are scheduled to continue technical trials, payload deployments, and outreach activities throughout the remainder of their mission.