China has started an emergency response for three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, which reportedly experienced damage from debris in orbit, resulting in a delay of their journey back to Earth.
The China Manned Space Engineering Office is currently executing a thorough safety assessment and examining the technical aspects of the issue. Meanwhile, preparations have begun in Inner Mongolia as crews simulate potential landing scenarios for the astronauts.
The Shenzhou-20 mission had its launch in late April and was scheduled to conclude on November 5, but plans have changed due to the suspected collision. This incident has resulted in six astronauts now residing on the Tiangong space station, including the recently arrived crew of Shenzhou-21, who docked with the station on November 1 to take over operations. Authorities have confirmed that the space station is stable and capable of supporting both teams at the same time.
While brief setbacks are not a rarity in space missions (for instance, Shenzhou-19 faced a one-day delay earlier this year due to unfavorable weather), the situation is complicated by the potential damage to the spacecraft.
This occurrence highlights the escalating dangers linked to orbital debris, which has surged in recent years alongside the rapid increase in satellite launches worldwide. Since the beginning of the space era, millions of pieces from means of transportation, dismantled satellites, and other debris have built up in Earth’s orbit, posing threats to both government and commercial space travel.
