Shenzhou XX crew to conduct second spacewalk

The crew of China's Shenzhou XX mission is scheduled to carry out their second spacewalk in the coming days, the China Manned Space Agency said Wednesday.

The three crew members — mission commander Senior Colonel Chen Dong and Colonels Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie — have been aboard the Tiangong space station for two months since arriving on April 25.

Since their first spacewalk on May 22, the astronauts have completed a range of tasks, including environmental measurements inside the station, inspections and maintenance of instruments, and materials management. They have also engaged in a series of scientific and technological experiments, the agency said in a news release.

"The Tiangong space station remains in stable condition. The crew members are in good spirits and are ready for the coming spacewalk," the agency said.

The May spacewalk was the 21st extravehicular activity conducted by Chinese astronauts and marked the fourth time Chen Dong has exited the space station. He previously performed three spacewalks during the Shenzhou XIV mission.

The Shenzhou XX crew is on China's 15th manned spaceflight and is the ninth group of astronauts to live aboard Tiangong, currently the only operational space station run independently by a single nation.