This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Dec. 17, 2024 shows Shenzhou-19 astronaut Cai Xuzhe (above) and Song Lingdong (below) working outside and inside the airlock cabin of China's orbiting space station. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shenzhou-19 crew members aboard China's orbiting space station completed the first extravehicular activities (EVAs) of their mission at 9:57 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, worked for nine hours on completing multiple tasks, including the installation of space-debris protection devices. They were assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth.

Cai and Song, the two crew members assigned the EVA duty, have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.

The mission of the first extravehicular activities of the Shenzhou-19 crew was a complete success, setting a new record for the duration of extravehicular activities by Chinese astronauts, said the CMSA.

It marked Cai's second EVAs in space, following his initial EVAs during the Shenzhou-14 mission two years ago. Song became the first Chinese astronaut born after 1990 to carry out EVAs, said the agency.

The Shenzhou-19 crew is set to carry out a slew of scheduled space-science experiments and technical tests, while they will also undertake additional extravehicular activities and install payloads outside the space station, the agency added. 

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