Shenzhou-19 crew members aboard China's orbiting space station completed their third extravehicular activities (EVAs) at 20:50 (Beijing Time) on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze worked for more than seven hours to completing multiple tasks, including the installation of space-debris protection and auxiliary devices, and the checks of extravehicular components. They were assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a ground team in Beijing.
Cai and Song, the two crew members assigned for the EVAs duty, have returned safely to the Wentian lab module. Wang assisted the pair throughout the mission from the space station.
The spacewalk mission was a complete success, said the CMSA.
Cai, having completed his fifth extravehicular activity, now ranks first among Chinese astronauts in the number of spacewalks performed.
During their first extravehicular mission in December, the Shenzhou-19 crew spent over nine hours outside the Tiangong space station, the longest spacewalk by Chinese astronauts. They primarily installed protective devices for the external pipelines and cables of the Tianhe core module.
Their second spacewalk in January this year lasted about 8.5 hours and put a focus on strengthening the Wentian lab module.
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission entered the Tiangong space station on Oct 30, 2024 for a six-month stay. They will return to Earth after another month.
China's Shenzhou-19 crew completes third extravehicular activities
China's Shenzhou-19 crew completes third extravehicular activities
China's Shenzhou-19 crew completes third extravehicular activities
The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix roared to life at the Shanghai International Circuit in east China on Friday. Over the course of three days, fans are treated to a thrilling spectacle of speed and skill as the world's top drivers are battling it out on one of the most iconic tracks in the sport.
This year's event marks the second race of the 24-race Formula 1 season. Teams and drivers are eager to secure strong results in Shanghai to lay a solid foundation for the long campaign ahead.
The schedule saw official Free Practice sessions and the qualifying for the Sprint race on Friday, followed by the Sprint itself and the Sprint Qualifying session for the main race on Saturday. The climax of the weekend, the main race, will take place on Sunday afternoon.
Charles Leclerc, a driver for the Ferrari team, shared his thoughts on competing in China.
"It's always nice to come back to China. The track itself is very very technical and a very difficult track for me. I think this season we're starting with the two most difficult tracks, so I've got to work a bit harder for Melbourne and Shanghai. But I'm looking forward to the challenges. This is something I enjoy," he said.
Since its debut in Shanghai in 2004, the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix has grown into a globally recognized sporting event and a major highlight on the city's sports calendar. As this year coincids with the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, the event has drawn massive interest.
Tickets for the 2025 race were almost sold out well in advance, with an estimated 220,000 spectators expected to attend over the weekend. This impressive turnout is set to surpass last year's record of over 200,000 visitors, further cementing the race's status as a premier sporting attraction in China.
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix kicks off in Shanghai
