China's Shenzhou-20 mission has marked 188 days in orbit, with the team now poised to set a new record for longest space stay by a Chinese crew. At a recent briefing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Chinese mainland, Zhang Jingbo of the China Manned Space Agency confirmed that all mission objectives are on track and the astronauts are in good health.
Commander Chen Dong has already logged over 400 days accumulated in space across missions, and leads the Shenzhou-20 crew with six extravehicular activities (EVAs)—the highest number for any Chinese astronaut. Rookies Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie have also excelled, completing their first spaceflight tasks with precision.
Key achievements so far include:
- Four EVAs to install debris shields, external supports and foot restraint adapters that boost in-space work efficiency.
- Seven cargo transfers between the spacecraft and space station modules, ensuring smooth logistics and maintenance.
- Successful installation of protective devices on the Wentian lab module to guard against micro-debris.
On the science front, close collaboration between the crew and ground teams has yielded early breakthroughs:
- Growth of high-quality protein crystals in microgravity, paving the way for potential cancer treatment targets.
- Record-setting heating of tungsten alloy to 3,100°C in space materials experiments.
- First observation of charged colloids crystallizing into long-lived structures under microgravity conditions.
With rotation and return preparations underway, the Shenzhou-20 crew is not only pushing human endurance limits but also expanding our understanding of space science—highlighting the power of teamwork, technology and curiosity in today’s global space race.
Reference(s):
China's Shenzhou-20 crew to set new record for longest space stay
cgtn.com
