Resident Crews of the Chinese Space Station Tiangong

Tiangong: Expedition 7

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Crew, launch- and landing data

No. Nation Surname Given names Position Spacecraft
(launch)
Launch
date
Launch
time
Spacecraft
(landing)
Landing
date
Landing
time
Mission
duration
Orbits
1 China  Ye  Guangfu  Commander (Zhĭlìng zhăng)  Shenzhou-18  25.04.2024  12:59:00.479 UTC  Shenzhou-18  03.11.2024  17:24:27 UTC 192d 04h 25m 27s  3041 
2 China  Li  Guangsu  Astronaut 2 (Hángtiān yuán wŭ)  Shenzhou-18  25.04.2024  12:59:00.479 UTC  Shenzhou-18  03.11.2024  17:24:27 UTC 192d 04h 25m 27s  3041 
3 China  Li  Cong  Astronaut 3 (Hángtiān yuán sān)  Shenzhou-18  25.04.2024  12:59:00.479 UTC  Shenzhou-18  03.11.2024  17:24:27 UTC 192d 04h 25m 27s  3041 
4 China  Cai  Xuzhe  Astronaut 4 (Hángtiān yuán sì)  Shenzhou-19  29.10.2024  20:27:34.469 UTC  Shenzhou-19  30.04.2025  05:08:12 UTC 182d 08h 38m 40s  2886 
5 China  Song  Lingdong  Astronaut 5 (Hángtiān yuán wu)  Shenzhou-19  29.10.2024  20:27:34.469 UTC  Shenzhou-19  30.04.2025  05:08:12 UTC 182d 08h 38m 40s  2886 
6 China  Wang  Haoze  Astronaut 6 (Hángtiān yuán liù)  Shenzhou-19  29.10.2024  20:27:34.469 UTC  Shenzhou-19  30.04.2025  05:08:12 UTC 182d 08h 38m 40s  2886 

Expedition Report

Expedition 7 began with undocking of Shenzhou-17 on April 30, 2024 at 00:43 UTC.

t the beginning of their stay, the astronauts installed an aquarium with four zebrafish. This is a closed ecosystem in which the plants were fertilized with the fish's feces. The plants produce the oxygen needed for the fish. The aquarium contained a pump to circulate water between the plant and fish areas. A sensor in the fish compartment reported when the oxygen level fell below the threshold and switched on a lamp. This triggered photosynthesis.
After 20 days, the fish were still disoriented, but they were doing so well that they spawned after mating. The spawn was collected by the astronauts and frozen for study on Earth.

The unmanned freighter Tianzhou-7 docked with the space station on January 17, 2024. On board were, among other things, materials needed for the production of fiber optic cables.

As a result of strong solar storms, the apogee and perigee of Tiangong had dropped and had to be raised using the engines of Tianzhou-7.

On May 28, 2024 Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu performed the first spacewalk (8h 23m). Main tasks were the Installation of micrometeorite shields and inspecting equipment outside the spacecraft with precise coordination.
To achieve a range of 14.5 meters, the two robotic arms were coupled together. Ye Guangfu was taken to the solar cell flights with the mechanical arm. Li Guangsu later climbed along Wentian's outer wall to the solar cells. He examined them for damage and discovered discoloration and small craters.

Shenzhou-18 astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Cong completed the second spacewalk on July 03, 2024 at 14:58 UTC on July 03, 2024. More debris shields on Wentian were installed and checked solar arrays. The spacewalk lasted 6h 39m.

About two weeks after the EVA, a leak with pressure loss caused by space debris was simulated as part of an exercise. Contrary to a previous exercise, the crew searched for the leak. Astronauts Li Guangsu and Li Cong, equipped with tools and wearing breathing masks, searched for the simulated leak, while Ye Guangfu monitored the operation from the Tianhe core module.

A test of the smoke and fire detectors was conducted in the first week of August 2024. An evacuation drill followed one week later.

Expedition 7 concluded with undocking of Shenzhou-17 on November 03, 2024.

EVA data

  Name Start End Duration Mission Airlock Suit
EVA Ye Guangfu 28.05.2024, 02:35 UTC 28.05.2024, 10:58 UTC 8h 23m Shenzhou-18 Wentian Feitian-2 a (red)
EVA Li Guangsu 28.05.2024, 02:35 UTC 28.05.2024, 10:58 UTC 8h 23m Shenzhou-18 Wentian Feitian-2 b (blue)
 
EVA Ye Guangfu 03.07.2024, 08:19 UTC 03.07.2024, 14:58 UTC 6h 39m Shenzhou-18 Wentian Feitian-2 a (red)
EVA Li Cong 03.07.2024, 08:19 UTC 03.07.2024, 14:58 UTC 6h 39m Shenzhou-18 Wentian Feitian-2 b (blue)
 

Photos

crew in training crew in training
crew in training crew in training
crew in training EVA Li Guangsu on May 28, 2024
EVA Ye Guangfu and Li Cong on July 03, 2024 EVA Ye Guangfu and Li Cong on July 03, 2024
Earth observation Earth observation
Crews Shenzhou-18 and 19

onboard photos

more Earth observation photos

 

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Last update on November 02, 2025.

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