Space debris postpones Shenzhou XX astronauts Earth return

Written by Copernical Team Thursday, 06 November 2025 01:07

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Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 06, 2025

The scheduled return of the Shenzhou XX astronauts from China's Tiangong space station has been halted for safety reasons following a probable impact with space debris, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The agency reported on Wednesday that the spacecraft charged with bringing three crew members home may have suffered strikes by minuscule orbital debris fragments. "An impact anal

Space debris postpones Shenzhou XX astronauts Earth return
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 06, 2025

The scheduled return of the Shenzhou XX astronauts from China's Tiangong space station has been halted for safety reasons following a probable impact with space debris, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The agency reported on Wednesday that the spacecraft charged with bringing three crew members home may have suffered strikes by minuscule orbital debris fragments.

"An impact analysis and risk assessment are underway. To ensure the safety of the astronauts and the success of the mission, it has been decided that the Shenzhou XX return flight will be postponed," the agency stated. No revised schedule for the return has been issued.

The Shenzhou XX crew - Senior Colonel Chen Dong, Colonel Chen Zhongrui, and Colonel Wang Jie - has occupied the Chinese space station since April 25, totaling more than six months in orbit. This mission marks the nation's 15th manned spaceflight and establishes them as the ninth group to reside aboard Tiangong, currently the world's only independently operated space station.

Their replacements from the Shenzhou XXI mission arrived Saturday and have already assumed responsibilities within the outpost.

Space debris encompasses human-made materials in Earth orbit, which introduce significant difficulties for ongoing space operations. The debris includes old satellites, spent rocket components, collision fragments, and even paint flakes. These particles, moving at high velocity, can threaten spacecraft integrity and crew safety. Experts indicate that a 1-centimeter piece traveling at 17,000 kilometers per hour can deliver energy equivalent to a hand grenade and destroy a spacecraft.

International estimates suggest over 100 million debris pieces smaller than 1 centimeter orbit the Earth, with a cumulative mass of thousands of metric tons. These hypervelocity particles may cause erosion and functional loss in spacecraft.

Spacecraft frequently encounter damage due to debris. For example, the International Space Station has logged more than 1,000 impacts from meteoroids and space debris and has conducted numerous maneuvers to avoid hazardous collisions.