Three Chinese astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday afternoon after a nine-day delay caused by space debris damage to their spacecraft, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has revealed that “tiny cracks” have been discovered in the small window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft’s return capsule. In a statement, CMSA said: “The capsule does not meet safety requirements for crewed return. Shenzhou-20 will remain in orbit and conduct relevant experiments.”
The astronauts were originally scheduled to return on Nov. 5 after completing a six-month mission to China’s Tiangong space station, part of the Shenzhou, or “Divine Vessel,” program.
Safe return via Shenzhou-21
To bring the crew back, they left Tiangong aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft and landed at the Dongfeng Landing Site in Inner Mongolia at 16:40 local time (8:40 GMT). The mission had been running smoothly since its launch in April until the debris incident caused an unusual delay.
Logistical challenges for Tiangong Station
The delay created a temporary logistical problem for China’s space station. Normally, the handover occurs when a new crew arrives, but with the Shenzhou-21 craft taking the Shenzhou-20 crew home, the recently arrived Shenzhou-21 astronauts currently on Tiangong are without a return vehicle ready for flight.
CMSA said that according to safety protocols, the Shenzhou-22 unmanned rescue spacecraft would be launched at an “appropriate time in the future” if needed.
The growing threat of space debris
The incident underscores the increasing danger posed by space debris. Igor Marinin of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics told Reuters: “Due to the sharp increase in orbital debris, the probability of damage to spacecraft and space stations of all countries has increased significantly.”
The debris hazard has affected other missions around the world, including NASA and SpaceX flights to the International Space Station. Collisions, satellite breakups, and anti-satellite tests have created vast amounts of orbital debris.
