A Chinese space crew remains at the Tiangong space station after their return capsule was reportedly struck by small pieces of space debris, according to China’s spaceflight agency on Wednesday.
The Shenzhou-20 mission, comprising three astronauts, was set to conclude with their return to Earth on Wednesday. However, due to the incident, their mission has been extended while engineers perform impact analyses and evaluate the risks associated with the damaged capsule, as announced by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Their return has now been delayed indefinitely, with state broadcaster CCTV providing no additional information on the matter.
The crew’s capsule was likely impacted by minuscule space debris, an increasing threat in low Earth orbit. The CMSA has yet to disclose the full extent of the damage or specify any necessary repairs. If the capsule is deemed irreparable, the crew will follow protocol and utilize the Shenzhou-21 mission’s capsule for their journey back to Earth.
In an earlier event, astronauts Wang Jie, Chen Zhongrui, and Chen Dong were seen waving during a departure ceremony before embarking on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images)
The Shenzhou program regularly deploys teams of three astronauts to the Tiangong space station for six-month assignments, where they engage in scientific research and manage repairs, including those related to debris damage.
The Shenzhou-20 astronauts – mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie – arrived at Tiangong in April for a six-month rotation. They were nearing the end of their mission when the issue occurred.
Their replacements, part of the Shenzhou-21 mission, successfully docked with the station on Saturday. That crew consists of astronauts Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei and Zhang Lu.
Chinese astronauts for the Shenzhou-21 mission, from left, Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei and Zhang Lu wave as they attend a see-off ceremony at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Since launching its crewed spaceflight program in 2003, China has steadily expanded its capabilities – building its own space station and setting its sights on landing astronauts on the moon by 2030.
