Spacewalks and Power
Spacewalks have once again become tools for projecting power
Spacewalks have once again become tools for projecting power and crafting national narratives. Their visual appeal and technical complexity enable nations to showcase their technological prowess on the global stage while igniting pride at home. Long-time players like Russia and the USA now share this arena with China, which has swiftly adopted—and adapted—these strategies to further its strategic goals. By analyzing recent record-breaking spacewalks, we can glean insights into the underlying priorities, cultural nuances, and vulnerabilities of these competing nations.
Flexing the Muscles
Spacewalks, or extravehicular activities (EVAs), are both fascinating and grueling feats of engineering. Buzz Aldrin, during the Gemini 12 mission in 1966, was the first to demonstrate that EVAs could serve practical purposes like ship maintenance and repairs. Yet the origins of EVAs were less functional and more theatrical.
Alexei Leonov’s 1965 spacewalk—the first ever—was a symbolic move aimed at besting the United States. A few months later, Ed White’s retaliatory spacewalk served the same purpose. These early EVAs were as much about showing off as about advancing space exploration.
Over time, EVAs shifted from spectacle to routine. Skilled astronauts performed tasks like soldering, repairing, and inspecting equipment in the vacuum of space. Since Leonov’s pioneering walk, humanity has completed 391 EVAs in low Earth orbit, on the Moon, and in deep space. Of these, 243 were dedicated to the International Space Station (ISS) for construction, maintenance, and scientific research (data as of December 27, 2024; Source: http://www.spacefacts.de/eva/e_eva.htm). Yet the recent resurgence of "record-breaking" and "historic" spacewalks suggests that spectacle is once again taking center stage, driven by factors like advancements in space technologies and the mounting geopolitical competition among spacefaring nations.
The New Record Chase
On December 16, 2024, Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong completed a nine-hour spacewalk, breaking the previous U.S. record of eight hours and 56 minutes. Just three months earlier, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission had conducted the world’s first commercial spacewalk, lasting one hour and 46 minutes.
China’s extended EVA had practical motives, the astronauts has to install a space debris protection device on the Tiangong space station. Yet the extra four minutes over the previous record cannot be dismissed as coincidental. Records like these carry clear geopolitical messages: “We have the technology to match—or surpass—yours.”
Similarly, SpaceX framed the Polaris Dawn spacewalk as a historic milestone, but was it? The crew’s tasks—spacesuit mobility checks, scientific experiments on human spaceflight’s effects, and testing laser communication with Starlink—were certainly important, however calling historical something that has been done hundreds of times before seems forced as much as those four scraped minutes. Certainly, it was historical for SpaceX, but was it truly historical for humanity?
Both countries, one through its official national space program and the other through its flagship private company, are strategically showcasing their successes. Whether these actions represent truly historic milestones or simply reflect a competitive rivalry between peers is open to interpretation. It is important, however, to highlight the distinction between SpaceX and China. SpaceX is a private enterprise with a commercial focus, operating within the United States, while China is a sovereign nation. The fact that we are comparing a private company to a nation underscores a fundamental contrast between the two systems. In the U.S., government policies and strategies can be influenced by private enterprises that maintain their independence. In China, however, the boundaries between state-controlled and privately-owned entities are far less distinct, and no Chinese company would enjoy the level of operational freedom that SpaceX does.
Not-So-Subliminal Messages
Official statements following these EVAs reveal the contrasting propaganda styles of China and the U.S. The China Manned Space Engineering Office celebrated with a “The extravehicular activities were a complete success, once again breaking the record for the length of extravehicular activities of Chinese astronauts”. Song Lingdong, the young astronaut who performed the EVA, also added “Today, our crew successfully completed the mission, and while enjoying the beautiful scenery of space, we also deeply felt the heaviness and greatness of the manned space industry. Human spaceflight is a relay race, we are always on the road, let's continue to work hard, together to the future!”.
China’s approach reflects its autocratic structure, emphasizing collective achievement and national pride. By contrast, SpaceX’s messaging around Polaris Dawn was fragmented, seemingly tailored to diverse audiences including space enthusiasts, scientists, and philanthropists, but perhaps at the cost of a cohesive narrative. It celebrated SpaceX’s technological prowess, highlighted scientific contributions, and emphasized the charity funds raised for St. Louis Children’s Hospital—a nod to American values of innovation, community, and philanthropy.
Why the difference? It lies in the systems behind the messaging. China’s state-run program operates with centralized control, while U.S. efforts, driven by private companies like SpaceX, must appeal to both government stakeholders and the public. As such, American space campaigns often embody a blend of technological bravado, societal commitment, and commercial ambition. For instance, NASA’s Artemis program for example promises to land the “first woman and first person of color on the Moon,” a nod to contemporary social values.
A European Perspective
Europe’s historical experiences (two world wars, decades of fascism and dictatorships, and thousands of years of wars) leave its citizens skeptical of over-the-top messaging. The Polaris Dawn campaign, with its glossy photos of astronauts performing spacewalks and engaging with their communities, might strike Europeans as performative—manufacturing history rather than making it. The gesture of raising funds for the St. Louis Children Hospital reminded me of a Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns decided to give a donation to the Springfield Children Hospital, but then decided to keep the money for himself to undergo a procedure that would have extended his life by 10 minutes (It’s episode 19 of Season 15, if you are curious).
That said, Europe’s own bureaucratic inertia makes it ill-suited to counter China’s rapid advances. Private companies like SpaceX may be the only entities agile enough to compete effectively. It’s a curious moment in history: two vastly different systems—autocratic state and private-sector-driven democracy—converging on similar methods to win the space race.
Human Beings Out in the Cold
Amid the power plays and propaganda, the human element often gets lost. EVAs remain inherently risky and complex, demanding meticulous planning to avoid unnecessary danger. History is littered with examples of human overconfidence leading to catastrophe. As nations and companies push the boundaries of space exploration, we must prioritize astronaut safety and ensure these missions serve genuine scientific and technical purposes—not just national or corporate ego.