Chinese astronauts make first space walk outside new station

Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo were shown by state TV climbing out of the airlock as Earth rolled past below them. The third crew member, commander Nie Haisheng, stayed inside

Two astronauts made the first space walk on July 4 outside China’s new orbital station to work on setting up a 15-meter (50-foot) long robotic arm. Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo were shown by state TV climbing out of the airlock as Earth rolled past below them. The third crew member, commander Nie Haisheng, stayed inside. The astronauts arrived June 17 for a three-month mission aboard China’s third orbital station, part of an ambitious space programme that landed a robot rover on Mars in May. Their mission comes as the ruling Communist Party celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding.