Landing postponed for Chinese astronauts after suspected space debris strike
**Chinese Astronauts’ Return from Tiangong Space Station Delayed Due to Possible Space Debris Strike**
Three Chinese astronauts were scheduled to depart the Tiangong space station, reenter Earth’s atmosphere, and land in the remote desert of Inner Mongolia on Wednesday. However, officials have ordered the crew to remain aboard the station while engineers investigate a potential issue with their landing craft.
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), which is operated by the country’s military, announced the unexpected change late Tuesday in a brief statement posted to Weibo, China’s popular social media platform.
> “The Shenzhou 20 manned spacecraft is suspected of being impacted by small space debris,” the statement said. “Impact analysis and risk assessment are underway. To ensure the safety and health of the astronauts and the complete success of the mission, it has been decided that the Shenzhou 20 return mission, originally scheduled for November 5, will be postponed.”
### What We Know So Far
The Shenzhou 20 astronauts arrived at Tiangong in April. Their replacements, launching aboard the Shenzhou 21 mission, docked with the space station on Friday, temporarily boosting Tiangong’s crew size to six astronauts. After several days of joint operations, all six crew members held a handover ceremony early Tuesday to formally pass command of Tiangong to the new team.
Less than 24 hours after the ceremony, Chinese officials opted to postpone Shenzhou 20’s departure. The CMSA’s statement did not provide details on which part of the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft might be damaged, what led engineers to suspect space debris was responsible, or how long the crew’s return could be delayed.
The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft comprises three sections: a landing capsule, crew living quarters, and a module for power and propulsion. Before reentry, the modules separate, and only the landing capsule—with the astronauts inside—returns to Earth via a parachute-assisted landing. The other modules burn up as they reenter the atmosphere.
### Crew Details
The Shenzhou 20 crew is led by commander Chen Dong, a seasoned astronaut and former fighter pilot who is now on his third mission in space. Two first-time astronauts, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, have also been awaiting their homecoming after nearly six months in orbit.
### The Challenge of Space Debris
It is rare for China to publicly acknowledge issues during an ongoing space mission. Tiangong operations have run smoothly since the station hosted its first crew in 2021. Still, Chinese officials have recognized space debris as a significant risk.
During their mission, the Shenzhou 20 crew performed four spacewalks, all dedicated to improving the station’s exterior shielding against potential impacts from space debris, according to official reports. In 2023, Tiangong suffered a partial loss of power after space junk struck one of its solar panels, necessitating repairs during several spacewalks. This incident led to further efforts to install “space debris protection devices” on the station’s exterior.
The issue of space debris is not unique to the Tiangong station. The International Space Station (ISS), led by the United States and Russia, has also experienced close calls with debris. For instance, in 2021, a piece of space junk about 1 millimeter wide—too small to track from the ground—punctured the ISS’s Canadian-built robotic arm. Although the arm continued to function, such tiny objects, travelling almost 5 miles per second, could cause significant damage if they strike more sensitive areas.
### Next Steps and Safety Measures
There is no immediate indication that engineers consider the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft unsafe for reentry and landing. However, if the ship is found to be too severely damaged to return, officials have a backup Shenzhou spacecraft and rocket ready for a potential rescue mission from China’s Jiuquan space center in the Gobi desert.
For now, the Shenzhou 20 crew will remain at Tiangong as engineers complete their assessment of the spacecraft’s condition, prioritizing their safety and the successful conclusion of the mission.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/11/landing-postponed-for-chinese-astronauts-after-suspected-space-debris-strike/
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