Shenzhou-21 Used After Debris Cracks Found in Original Capsule
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after a nine-day delay caused by damage to their original reentry capsule, an issue officials say was likely caused by space debris. The returning crew — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie — completed their six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station and landed in the Gobi Desert using the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft instead of the Shenzhou-20 they arrived in.
Their replacement craft, Shenzhou-21, had reached the station earlier this month carrying a new three-person team. After engineers discovered tiny cracks in a window on Shenzhou-20, the space agency decided it was unsafe for reentry and ordered the outgoing crew to use the newly arrived capsule for their return.
Landing in the Gobi Desert After a Nine-Day Delay
The Shenzhou-21 return capsule deployed its red and white parachute and touched down in a remote stretch of northern China in the late afternoon. The landing generated a large plume of dust, a familiar sight at the designated recovery zone used for China’s human spaceflight missions.
All three astronauts were reported to be in good health following their extended stay. During the unexpected delay, they continued experiments and worked alongside the arriving crew. They had originally been scheduled to return on November 5 but remained on the station until engineers could confirm a safe transport option.
Space Debris Risks Under the Spotlight
Chinese space officials said the cracks found on the Shenzhou-20 capsule window were most likely caused by space debris, a growing challenge for spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Millions of tiny objects — fragments from rocket stages, satellite collisions and other missions — circle the Earth at extremely high velocities, posing significant risks to space stations and reentry vehicles.
The incident underscores the increasing danger debris poses to orbital operations. While the damage was minor, any structural compromise on a reentry capsule can be serious, leading mission controllers to cancel the original return plan.
China’s Expanding Space Ambitions Continue
The mission marked another milestone for China’s steadily advancing space program. Since its first crewed flight in 2003, China has built and occupied its own space station, explored Mars with a rover and set a target of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030. The Tiangong station, though smaller than the International Space Station, serves as the centerpiece of China’s human spaceflight efforts after the country was barred from participating in the ISS program.
The latest mission also carried four mice to study how microgravity and confinement affect small mammals, part of China’s research into long-duration space habitation. Engineers say the findings will support future biological and life-support technologies needed for deep space missions.