Overview
- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia after 204 days in orbit, a new duration record for a Chinese crew.
- CMSA/CMSEO said tiny cracks were found in Shenzhou-20’s return-capsule viewport, most likely from orbital debris, making the spacecraft unsuitable for a crewed reentry.
- Officials cited photographs, design reviews, simulations and wind‑tunnel testing in the assessment that led to using the docked Shenzhou-21 spacecraft for the return.
- The damaged Shenzhou-20 will remain in orbit to conduct experiments rather than be used for reentry, according to the agency.
- With Shenzhou-21 used for the swap, the current Tiangong crew has no immediate return vehicle, and CMSA says Shenzhou-22 will be launched at an appropriate time.