Overview
- The Shenzhou 20 return capsule touched down uncrewed in the Dongfeng landing zone in China's Gobi Desert on January 19 local time.
- China previously delayed the planned November 5 crewed return after cracks were found in a window likely caused by small orbital debris, according to Chinese experts.
- Mission leaders activated a contingency for the first time, moving the three astronauts to the docked Shenzhou 21 for their November 14 return to Earth.
- The damaged spacecraft stayed at the space station for additional checks and repairs and reentered after roughly 270 days in orbit.
- The episode has refocused attention on the rising risks that space debris poses to spacecraft and human spaceflight operations.