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China Delays Shenzhou-20 Crew’s Return After Suspected Space Debris Hit

The trio will remain on Tiangong during inspections, with the newly arrived Shenzhou-21 crew maintaining routine operations.

Overview

  • China’s human spaceflight agency said impact analysis and risk assessment are underway and gave no new date for the landing.
  • Astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie had completed a handover before the planned Nov. 5 return and are now staying aboard the station.
  • Officials have not detailed the extent of any damage to the Shenzhou-20 reentry capsule, citing crew safety as the reason for postponement.
  • State media aired a ceremonial transfer of station control after Shenzhou-21 docked, ensuring continuous operations on Tiangong.
  • Coverage highlights space debris as a persistent hazard in low Earth orbit, with tens of thousands of tracked fragments and many more untracked microfragments.