Fei Junlong, commander of the Shenzhou-15 mission, mounts expansion pumps outside the Mengtian laboratory module on Thursday. The crew completed its first spacewalk at 12:16 a.m. Friday. Photo: Courtesy of the China Manned Space Agency

Fei opens the hatch to the Wentian laboratory module at 5:10 p.m. Thursday, marking the start of the spacewalk. Photo: Courtesy of the China Manned Space Agency

Fei exits the Wentian laboratory module. Photo: China Manned Space Agency/VCG

Shenzhou-15 crew member Zhang Lu (front) exits the module. Photo: Courtesy of the China Manned Space Agency

Fei moves from one cabin module to another with the aid of robotic arms. Photo: China Manned Space Agency/VCG

The spacewalk lasted seven hours, during which Fei and Zhang carried large equipment through the gap between the modules. Photo: China Manned Space Agency/VCG

Shenzhou-15 crew member Deng Qingming assists Fei and Zhang from inside the space station. It was the first spacewalk to include the Mengtian and Wentian laboratory modules, along with the Tianhe core module. Photo: China Manned Space Agency/VCG

Forty paintings created by children from across China hang on display inside the space station on Jan. 21. Photo: China Manned Space Agency/VCG

Zhang (left), Fei and Deng celebrate the Lunar New Year on Jan. 21. The three astronauts have been in space for more than 70 days. Photo: China Manned Space Agency/VCG