Overview
- China’s space agency says the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was damaged by orbital debris and the reentry has been postponed indefinitely since November 5.
- Astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie remain aboard Tiangong and are reported to be living and working normally.
- With Shenzhou-21’s trio arriving on November 1, six people are now on the station, increasing pressure on life-support and consumables designed for three.
- Authorities are analyzing the damage and conducting safety reviews, and reporting indicates an unmanned replacement capsule is under consideration.
- A landing-site rehearsal in Inner Mongolia is continuing as the incident draws attention to the growing hazard from space debris tracked by ESA.