The Shenzhou 15 crew have enjoyed their first spacewalk. Their seven-hour assignment is the latest landmark on-board the manned station which began a new phase of advanced activity this year. Sun Ye has more. 

Shenzhou 15 crew's first spacewalk  known as an EVA – is no small feat. It's the first spacewalk undertaken since the China Space Station was fully completed. It's also the first ever spacewalks for Zhang Lu and mission commander Fei Junlong. The crew have installed new equipment, including a set of extension pumps for the Mengtian space lab module.

HUANG WEIFEN, Chief Astronaut System Designer, Astronaut Center of China "The Shenzhou 15 crew performed very well today, especially for the two operating outside the space station. Zhang Lu had moved and covered more than 100 meters in distance. And for Fei Junlong, it's the first time spacewalking taikonaut, supported by robotic arms, has moved with large equipment while covering long distances. It's challenging. The three have cooperated well together, and aced today's assignment. I would give a thumb up."

Experts say Thursday's smooth operation benefited from a digital-simulated spaceport on the ground, allowing the virtual rehearsal of space moves. China Space Station has also made new forays in extravehicular activities this year moving cargo.

ZHANG YUGUANG, China Space Station Project, Overall Design Department, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) "We've also completed the first automatic transfer of payload from inside the CSS and had robotic arms move the payload this January such automatic extravehicular activities for cargo payload effectively reduce risks that come from taikonauts going out. They also save on the lifespan of spacesuits, they free taikonauts for other tasks and improve on the space station's efficiency."

China's Space Station entered a new, ten-year-plus, operation phase this year. Engineers say the operation is in "great shape."

The Shenzhou 15 crew arrived at China's Space Station last November, where a historical handover from the preceding Shenzhou 14 crew took place officially starting the long-term manned residency. SY, CGTN, BJ.