Overview
- The landing, initially planned for November 5, was postponed to protect crew safety and ensure mission success, according to China’s human spaceflight authority.
- Authorities said the spacecraft was presumably affected by small orbital debris and that analysis of the impact and risks is underway.
- Shenzhou-21 launched on October 31 with three taikonauts and successfully reached Tiangong to relieve the Shenzhou-20 crew.
- Astronauts from the two missions tested a new onboard oven and prepared barbecue in orbit, baking chicken wings in 28 minutes and a steak for commander Chen Dong.
- Russia confirmed a November 27 launch for Soyuz MS-28 carrying Sergei Kud’-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev, and NASA’s Christopher Williams, with spacewalks planned in April and June to install solar research gear and service the Zarya module.