The three astronauts of China’s Shenzhou 20 mission are returning to Earth later than planned and in a different spacecraft due to a recent incident involving space debris. Initially scheduled for departure from the Tiangong space station on November 5, 2023, the astronauts faced delays after their spacecraft sustained damage from what appears to be a small piece of debris. They ultimately departed on November 13, 2023, at 22:14 EDT (03:14 GMT and 11:14 a.m. Beijing time on November 14).
Instead of returning in their original Shenzhou 20 vehicle, the taikonauts—Commander Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie—are making their return in the newly arrived Shenzhou 21 spacecraft. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) determined that the Shenzhou 20 craft did not meet safety standards for the astronauts’ return.
Reports indicate that tiny cracks were found in the return capsule’s viewport window, likely caused by the external impact of space debris. The CMSA has stated that the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft will remain in orbit to conduct further experiments.
Return Journey and Mission Achievements
If the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft successfully endures the challenges of reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, the astronauts are expected to land at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region early on November 14. This mission marks the third spaceflight for Commander Chen Dong and the first for both Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, who launched to Tiangong on April 24, 2023.
During their time aboard the Tiangong space station, the astronauts carried out various scientific experiments and public outreach activities. They also completed four spacewalks, which included installing debris shields and other equipment on the exterior of the space station.
Future Missions and Space Station Developments
The Shenzhou 21 mission launched on October 31, 2023, to relieve the Shenzhou 20 crew and initiate its own six-month mission. However, the impact of debris on Shenzhou 20 has resulted in an unexpected adjustment to the schedule. Looking ahead, astronauts from Shenzhou 21 are anticipated to return to Earth aboard the upcoming Shenzhou 22 vehicle, which is expected to launch at a later, unspecified date.
Shenzhou 20’s journey represents the ninth crewed mission to the Tiangong space station, which was completed in its three-module form by October 2022. Although Tiangong is approximately 20% the mass of the International Space Station, Chinese officials have expressed intentions to potentially expand the facility with additional modules in the future.
As the Shenzhou 20 astronauts conclude their mission, their experiences contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding human spaceflight and the ongoing development of China’s capabilities in space exploration.
