China's astronauts make first spacewalk of mission

Two astronauts from China's Shenzhou-13 spacecraft started a spacewalk on Sunday night out of China's orbital station. It is the first time for them since they were sent into orbit three weeks ago.

Zhai Zhigang climbed out of the airlock at 6:51 p.m. Beijing time and Wang Yaping followed stepping out at 8:28 p.m. Beijing time, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO). The third crew member Ye Guangfu stayed inside the core module to assist the extravehicular activity.

Zhai and Wang will first install foot restraints and a work bench on the robotic arm. Then with the support of the robotic arm, the two will install an adapter and a suspension system on the robotic arm for future works. Zhai, 55, first conducted a spacewalk in 2008, the first Chinese astronaut to do so. Wang, 41, is China's first female spacewalker.