Latest news with #taikonauts
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Chinese astronauts add debris shields to Tiangong space station during 8-hour spacewalk (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A pair of taikonauts have completed their first spacewalk aboard China's Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Two Shenzhou-20 crewmembers performed the mission's first extravehicular activity (EVA) on Thursday (May 22). The duo worked outside the Chinese low-Earth orbit laboratory for eight hours, wrapping up at 4:49 a.m. EDT (0849 GMT; 4:49 p.m. local time in Beijing). Chinese astronauts Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui served as the EVA's assigned spacewalkers, while their crewmate Wang Jie assisted from inside Tiangong with mission operators coordinating on Earth. Dong and Zhongrui exited the space station through the node cabin of the Tianhe module, marking the first time that airlock has been used for an EVA since Tiangong became operational. This was the 19th time taikonauts aboard Tiangong have conducted an EVA; many of these spacewalks have focused on installing debris shields to the station's exterior. With assistance from the station's robotic arm, Dong and Zhongrui successfully positioned a protective sheet on a designated exterior location on Tiangong. The pair also performed routine station maintenance and equipment inspections. RELATED STORIES: — 1,000 days in space! Core module of China's Tiangong space station hits milestone — China launches Shenzhou 20 astronauts to Tiangong space station (video) — Spacewalks: How they work and major milestones The Shenzhou-20 crew arrived at Tiangong on April 24, and are just about one month into their six-month-long mission. The trio replaced China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts, who returned to Earth on April 30. China has at least one more crewed mission planned for 2025. Shenzhou-21 is expected to launch sometime this fall. The Tiangong space station was completed in 2022 and has a continual occupancy planned for at least the next decade. The station presently consists of three main modules, but allows for China to launch more should they wish to expand the orbiting lab.
Sky News
21-05-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Radiation-resistant bacteria with 'unique ability' found on space station could be key for cosmos travel
A new species of bacteria discovered on board a space station could have profound implications for astronauts and long-term travel through the cosmos. A strain of Niallia with a "unique ability" was found on China's Tiangong Space Station, according to a scientific report. The discovery was announced in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Chinese taikonauts found the new bacteria on the surface of hardware on board the station in May 2023, and it was analysed to see how it survived in such tough conditions "Understanding the characteristics of microbes during long-term space missions is essential for safeguarding the health of astronauts and maintaining the functionality of spacecraft," the report says. Challenges faced by living things in such environments include microgravity, radiation, and limited nutrients. The study of which bacteria survive on space stations is also necessary for understanding how to control and avoid contamination on board. According to the report, this new strain - which most closely resembles Niallia circulans found on Earth - may be better resistant to radiation and oxidative stress. It also has a "unique ability" to hydrolyse (break down) gelatine, which could be useful in environments with limited nutrients.
