Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sep 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronauts Cai Xuzhe (top) and Chen Dong conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs). Photo:Xinhua

China's Shenzhou-14 taikonauts conducted their second extravehicular activities (EVAs) on Saturday, with astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe successfully finishing their tasks at 5:47 pm after five hours of close cooperation. Cai and Chen have already returned to the space station lab module Wentian, while Liu has been inside Wentian assisting the EVAs by the two taikonauts, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Cai opened the airlock cabin of the Wentian lab module of the China Space Station at 1:35 pm. Both Cai and Chen successfully exited the space station lab module Wentian by 3:33 pm.

"I'm feeling good," Cai said while waving his hand, according to CCTV.

The two astronauts installed a foot limiter and the extravehicular workbench. 

Assisted by a small robotic arm, they cooperated on tasks including installing the extravehicular handle and conducting outside-cabin rescue verification, both of which were being carried out for the first time for China's manned space missions.

"During previous missions, astronauts opened the cabin from the inside, while this time, the astronauts take the tools out of the cabin and install it on a toolbox beside an annular handrail," Wang Chunhui, deputy chief designer of the taikonaut system, told CCTV.

She said the handle is mainly used for dealing with abnormal or emergency situations, as when they are outside and cannot open the cabin from the inside, they could use it to open the cabin.

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sep 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Cai Xuzhe exiting the space station lab module Wentian to conduct extravehicular activities (EVAs). Photo:Xinhua

As for the extravehicular rescue verification, the taikonauts imitated the procedure of one astronaut climbing to bring back the other astronaut who has been rendered "incapable."

During the period, astronaut Liu stayed inside the core module in a supporting role.

Chen and Liu completed their first EVAs and returned to the space station lab module Wentian, the CMSA said on September 2.

The Shenzhou-14 crew has been in space since June 5. During the second half of their six-month stay in orbit, they will oversee the arrival of the other lab module Mengtian and be involved in the first Chinese space station crew handover when the Shenzhou-15 crew arrives.

Global Times

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sep 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Cai Xuzhe conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs). Photo:Xinhua

 

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sep 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Cai Xuzhe exiting the space station lab module Wentian to conduct extravehicular activities (EVAs). Photo:Xinhua