Archive · 25 Nov 2025
China Launches Emergency Shenzhou 22 to Rescue Astronauts
Three Chinese astronauts are stuck in space because their ride home got damaged by space junk.
China quickly sent a new empty spaceship, Shenzhou 22, to bring them back.
This is like when Sunita Williams and her crew had to wait months for a safe return.
The astronauts are doing well, and the rescue ship was sent just 20 days after finding the problem.
China's space team acted fast to fix this unexpected situation.
The rescue ship brought medical supplies, spare parts, and even some food like chicken wings and cake.
It will stay at the space station until April 2026 to bring the new crew back to Earth.
Three Chinese astronauts are stranded on the Tiangong space station due to space debris damaging their return vehicle.
China launched the uncrewed Shenzhou 22 spacecraft on November 25, 2023, as an emergency rescue mission.
The Shenzhou 22 was originally scheduled for a manned mission in April 2026 but was repurposed for this rescue.
The astronauts have no way to leave the station until the new vessel arrives.
China's quick response contrasts with similar incidents like the Soyuz-MS22 and Boeing's Starliner delays.
- Who
- Three Chinese astronauts (Zhang Lu, Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei) and the China Manned Space Agency (CMS)
- What
- Launch of Shenzhou 22 as an emergency rescue mission to the Tiangong space station
- When
- November 25, 2023
- Where
- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, China
- Why
- To rescue the Shenzhou 21 crew stranded due to space debris damage to their return vehicle
- Astronauts Stranded
- Zhang Lu, Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei
- Space Station
- Tiangong
- Rescue Ship
- Shenzhou 22
- Launch Date
- November 25, 2023
- Launch Site
- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre
- Rocket Used
- Long March-2F
- Space Debris Impact
- Shenzhou 20 return vehicle
- Original Shenzhou 22 Mission
- Manned mission scheduled for April 2026
- Docking Time
- 3:50 p.m. (0750 GMT)
- Supplies Carried
- Medical supplies, spare parts, repair equipment, fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken wings, steak, and cake
Sources
Stranded in space like Sunita Williams, Chinese astronauts eye lifeline as Shenzhou 22 launches— the story so far
China launches spacecraft to bring back astronauts left stranded in space by damaged vehicle
China’s first emergency mission to plug safety risk at Tiangong Space Station successful