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3h ago

China Prepares Shenzhou-22 After Capsule Swap Leaves Tiangong Crew Without Ride Home

The crew lacks a lifeboat because Shenzhou-20 used their capsule after its own was damaged by suspected debris.

Astronautas chinos varados volvieron a la Tierra, pero usaron la nave de los rescatistas y los dejan atrapados en el espacio
Image
Zhang Lu, Wu Fei y Zhang Hongzhang, de la misión Shenzhou-21, están varados en la estación espacial Tiangong
China ya prepara una misión para traer a sus astronautas a la Tierra.

Overview

  • Wang Jie, Chen Zhongrui, and Chen Dong returned on November 14 using the Shenzhou-21 capsule after a cracked window rendered their Shenzhou-20 reentry module unsafe.
  • Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang remain aboard Tiangong without a docked return vehicle as they proceed with a planned six‑month mission.
  • A CMSA official told state broadcaster CCTV that preparations are underway for an uncrewed Shenzhou-22, with launch targeted around November 25 to restore evacuation capability.
  • Once the replacement craft docks, the damaged Shenzhou-20 is expected to be undocked and deorbited over the Pacific Ocean, according to Reuters reporting.
  • Space safety experts, including Victoria Samson of the Secure World Foundation, voiced concern over the lack of an immediate return option and the limited public technical details about the damage.