Archive · 15 Nov 2025
Chinese astronauts return safely after space debris delays mission
Three astronauts were living on China's space station.
Their spaceship had a small crack in a window because of space junk, so they couldn't come home on their original ship.
They had to wait an extra nine days!
Luckily, another spaceship, Shenzhou-21, arrived, and the astronauts used that one to return safely to Earth.
This delay caused a bit of a puzzle because the new astronauts who arrived also needed a ship to come home.
China plans to send another unmanned ship later just in case.
The problem shows that space junk is becoming a bigger worry for spaceships.
Three Chinese astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday afternoon.
Their return was delayed by nine days due to damage to their Shenzhou-20 spacecraft from space debris.
Tiny cracks were found in a window of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule, making it unsafe for the crew.
The astronauts departed the Tiangong space station aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft for their return.
The incident highlights the growing danger of space debris to spacecraft and space stations.
- Who
- Three Chinese astronauts
- What
- Safely returned to Earth after a mission delay caused by space debris damage to their original spacecraft.
- When
- Returned Friday afternoon, nine days after the original scheduled return.
- Where
- China's Tiangong space station, returning to the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia.
- Why
- The Shenzhou-20 return capsule had 'tiny cracks' in a window due to space debris, making it unsafe for crewed return.
Astronauts' Return Status
Spacecraft Condition
Mission Completion and Return
Astronauts' Return Status
The astronauts have safely returned to Earth after a nine-day delay.
Spacecraft Condition
The original Shenzhou-20 return capsule experienced damage from space debris, necessitating a change in return spacecraft.
- Returning Astronauts
- Three Chinese astronauts
- Original Spacecraft
- Shenzhou-20
- Return Spacecraft
- Shenzhou-21
- Space Station
- Tiangong
- Original Return Date
- November 5
- Actual Return Date
- Friday afternoon
- Landing Site
- Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia
