China's astronauts check Shenzhou-20 viewport window during spacewalk

The Shenzhou-21 crew successfully completed their primary objective during their first series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) on Tuesday, which was inspecting and photographing the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Tiny cracks were found in the viewport window, most probably caused by external impacts from space debris. As a result, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft did not meet the safety requirements for the astronauts' return and has remained in orbit.

The trio crew, consisting of mission commander Zhang Lu and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, completed all assigned tasks by 18:42 (Beijing Time) after more than eight hours, with assistance from the space station's robotic arm and ground-based research fellows.

"The astronaut moved outside the module, carrying high-definition camera to take photos, and the ground personnel confirmed the status. The first task was to inspect from the outside of the module whether there were any further anomalies of the viewport window, and the second was to assess the structure surrounding the window to provide technical support for future decisions regarding Shenzhou-20," said Zheng Hao from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

In addition to inspection, another crucial task was installing debris-shielding components on the Tianhe core module. This installation focused on safeguarding exposed cables and pipelines, enhancing the space station's overall capability to respond to space debris.

Zheng noted a unique technical challenge for this mission: it was the first time EVAs were conducted with two crewed spacecraft docked to the space station. This new layout imposed higher demands on the robotic arm's path planning and motion safety.

"We had to redesign the path while considering constraints related to the spacecraft's equipment and solar panels," Zheng added. The data collected during this activity will provide crucial support for the subsequent unmanned return mission of Shenzhou-20 and the long-term safe operation of the space station.

Since entering the orbiting space station combination on Nov 1, the Shenzhou-21 astronauts have completed various tasks, including a rotation with the Shenzhou-20 crew, maintenance of the space station platform, inspection and organization of emergency supplies, and life and health support activities.

The three astronauts for the Shenzhou-20 mission returned to the Earth aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on November 14, and the Shenzhou-22 spaceship was launched on November 25 as a return vessel for the Shenzhou-21 astronauts in orbit.

China's astronauts check Shenzhou-20 viewport window during spacewalk

China's service consumption has continued its positive momentum with new encouraging trends in the first half of 2026, driven by sustained policies to boost domestic demand and consumption, Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Yan highlighted the role of service consumption in driving growth, and outlined future efforts to improve quality and public benefits.

"Service consumption is both a cornerstone for boosting current consumption and a main engine for future consumption growth. Going forward, we will ensure the implementation of the plan to expand consumption during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), leverage the leading role of the service consumption working mechanism, and promote quality improvement and public benefits in service consumption," Yan said.

In the first half of this year, China's service consumption has shown three prominent "new" features.

First, quality upgrading has brought new offerings, giving rise to greater consumption vitality. Consumer demand has shifted from quantity to quality.

In the first half of the year, retail sales of tourism consulting and leasing services grew by 11.3 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively, while sales revenue from tourism, sightseeing and entertainment services increased by 12.3 percent year on year.

Second, new growth drivers have emerged, making growth engines more active. New business forms such as digital entertainment, online fitness and "internet plus healthcare" have developed rapidly.

In the first half of the year, online service retail sales grew by six percent, and communication and information services maintained relatively fast growth. Inbound consumption remained vibrant, with visa-free entries by overseas visitors increasing by 30.6 percent year on year in the first six months.

Additionally, business models have been updated, making consumption scenes more vibrant. In the first half of the year, sales revenue from immersive experiences such as performing arts and museums grew by 28.3 percent and 24.6 percent, respectively.

The national railway operated 1,797 tourist trains, including 445 customized trains for concert-goers and sports fans, providing consumers with richer and more interesting consumption experiences.

China's service consumption shows steady growth with new trends in H1