The three taikonauts of the Shenzhou-20 mission—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie—have returned home after being temporarily stranded at Tiangong Station due to a problem with their return capsule. Their landing at the Dongfeng Landing Site in Inner Mongolia was uneventful, with the crew safe and sound; an outcome that, despite the initial tension, puts the spotlight on the damage caused by space debris on the ship that was supposed to bring them home.
According to a statement from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and the state news agency Xinhua, small cracks were detected in a window of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule, forcing the postponement of its planned return on November 5. In response, the contingency plan was activated to use the Shenzhou-21 shuttle as an emergency vehicle, with which the spacecraft ultimately... They would complete the safe return..
Timeline of the return and crew status
The return to Earth sequence proceeded normally: undocking, exit maneuvers, module separation, reentry, and parachute deployment before touchdown in the Gobi Desert. After landing, rescue teams and medical personnel confirmed that all three astronauts were safe. in optimal physical condition.
CMSA detailed that Shenzhou-21 successfully separated its orbital module from its propulsion module as planned. This landing concludes a 204-day stay at the Tiangong space station, an extended period during which the crew completed multiple operational and scientific milestones.
What went wrong with Shenzhou-20?
The return capsule showed micro-cracks in one of its windows, most likely due to the impact of debris in low Earth orbit. This damage compromised the safety margins for the descent, so the CMSA determined that Shenzhou-20 "did not meet the requirements for crewed return" and that it will remain in orbit to continue with technical tests and evaluations.
After confirming the problem, the response protocol was activated: the relief crew that arrived at Tiangong in early November provided their own spacecraft as a means of return for the outgoing crew. In parallel, the Chinese space agency announced that it is preparing the Shenzhou-22, which will be launched—presumably without a crew—on a date yet to be determined, with the objective of restore rotation logistics.
Operational impact and next steps in Tiangong
The chosen solution resolves the immediate risk, but leaves a challenge: by using the replacement spacecraft as a return capsule, the crew currently aboard Tiangong will depend on the launch of Shenzhou-22 to have their own descent vehicle. In the event of a premature evacuation, their room for maneuver would be limited by the arrival of that new capsule, so the schedule could be adjusted.
Shenzhou-20 was the ninth crewed mission to Tiangong, a three-module orbital complex completed in 2022 that is about 20% the size of the International Space Station. Chinese authorities have not ruled out expanding it with new elements in the future, which would strengthen the scientific and operational capacity of the laboratory.
204 days of science, maintenance, and spacewalks
During their stay, the astronauts conducted four spacewalks to install space debris shields and other equipment on the exterior of Tiangong, in addition to planned maintenance work. These activities reinforced the station resilience against microfragment impacts.
On the scientific front, the crew conducted experiments in microgravity, materials science, and space biology, along with outreach activities, such as the first barbecue in spaceThe results will contribute to improving processes and technologies for future operations, consolidating long-term work routines.
After the arrival of the relief crew, both teams spent a few days together to complete the transfer of responsibilities and safety checks. This coordination is key to maintaining the station at peak performance and minimize risk windows.
Unexpected scientific cargo: four rodents on board
Four mice returned with the astronauts as part of an experiment to study the effects of microgravity and confinement on small mammals. Continuously monitored in orbit, they showed a rapid adaptation to eating, drinking, and sleeping on their own; they will now be analyzed on Earth to further investigate these effects. observed physiological changes.
Space debris: a global risk with repercussions in Europe
The incident has once again brought the congestion of low Earth orbit into sharp focus: it is estimated that there are more than 200.000 objects between 1 and 10 cm in size and tens of thousands larger than 10 cm. Last year, the destruction of a Russian satellite generated more than a hundred trackable fragments and forced the ISS crew to seek shelter, a reminder that these projectiles, which travel at speeds exceeding that of a bullet, threaten satellites, stations, and crewed missions, with implications for European services such as navigation and earth observation.
The Chinese space program, in perspective
China considers Tiangong a strategic asset and a symbol of its technological advancement. After being excluded from the International Space Station for safety reasons, the country has developed its own orbital laboratory, operated a rover on Mars, and maintains its goal of sending astronauts to the Moon around 2030. With each crew rotation and each scientific campaign, Beijing is strengthening a space ecosystem that aspires to to sustain more ambitious missions.
The safe return of Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie using Shenzhou-21, the continued orbital presence of Shenzhou-20 for testing, and the decision to prepare Shenzhou-22 paint a clear picture: the mission was successfully completed, but space debris remains the major operational challenge. Awaiting future launches and with attention focused on European time zones for news coverage, Tiangong continues in service and under strict mitigation protocols.