The crew aboard China's Tiangong space station is gearing up for their first spacewalk during the Shenzhou XIX mission, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Monday.
Mission commander Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe, along with Lieutenant Colonel Song Lingdong and Lieutenant Colonel Wang Haoze, has been stationed on Tiangong for 48 days since their arrival on October 30.
In a statement, the CMSA detailed the team's progress, stating they have carried out extensive preparation activities, including routine station maintenance, thorough checks of extravehicular spacesuits, emergency response drills, and medical aid exercises.
"The crew members are in good spirits, and the Tiangong space station remains in stable condition. All necessary preparations for extravehicular activity have been completed," the agency said.
This upcoming spacewalk will mark a key milestone for the crew, who represent the eighth team to inhabit the Tiangong station, one of the most significant orbiting facilities in operation. The mission's objectives focus on advancing space station operations and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the orbital outpost.
The Shenzhou XIX crew is expected to conclude their mission and return to Earth in late April or early May 2025.
