Archive · 9 Dec 2025
Chinese Astronauts Install Space Debris Protection
Chinese astronauts recently fixed a problem on their space station called Tiangong.
A tiny piece of space junk hit and cracked a window on their spacecraft, Shenzhou-20.
This was a big deal because it was the first time something like this happened to China's space program.
The astronauts had to stay in space longer than planned while a new crew, Shenzhou-21, was sent up to help.
The new crew went on a spacewalk to install special protection to stop space junk from causing more damage.
They also checked the cracked window.
The damaged spacecraft will be sent back to Earth without anyone on board so scientists can study it.
Chinese astronauts installed space debris protection on Tiangong after a high-velocity debris piece cracked the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft's window.
The damage led to an unprecedented emergency launch of the Shenzhou-21 crew, which had to wait 11 days for a flightworthy vessel.
Two members of the Shenzhou-21 crew performed a spacewalk to install the debris protection using Tiangong's robotic arm.
The astronauts also inspected and photographed the damaged window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, which will be sent back uncrewed for further examination.
The cracked window could potentially be reinforced by the Shenzhou-21 crew in future spacewalks.
- Who
- Chinese astronauts (Shenzhou-21 crew)
- What
- Installed space debris protection and inspected damaged window
- When
- December 10, 2024
- Where
- Tiangong Space Station
- Why
- To prevent future damage from space debris
- Event
- Installation of space debris protection on Tiangong
- Date
- December 10, 2024
- Location
- Tiangong Space Station
- Crew Involved
- Shenzhou-21 crew
- Damaged Vessel
- Shenzhou-20 spacecraft
- Emergency Launch
- Shenzhou-21
- Debris Source
- High-velocity space junk