US EditionChinese astronauts return to Earth after vessel damaged by space debris
The three astronauts delayed return due to cracks from space debris on Shenzhou-20, safely landed in Shenzhou-21 after over six months aboard Tiangong space station, China Manned Space Agency said.
- On Nov. 14, Commander Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie landed at Dongfeng Landing Site shortly before 3.45 a.m. EST after over 6 months aboard Tiangong, exiting the spacecraft in good health.
- Their planned Nov. 5 return was postponed after the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft absorbed an impact believed to be from space debris, state media said.
- The China Manned Space Agency reported tiny cracks in Shenzhou-20's return capsule viewport likely from external impact and said the capsule does not meet safety requirements for crewed return.
- They returned in the Shenzhou-21 craft instead, which arrived on Nov. 1 carrying four mice experiments, while Shenzhou-20 will remain in orbit, state media said.
- The episode underscores debris risks as China expands Tiangong, about 20% as massive as the International Space Station; CMSA said the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft would soon be sent.
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55 Articles
Three Chinese astronauts are stuck in space after an incident with probably space debris. Today they returned to Earth - with consequences for their successor crew.
leprogres.fr
republicain-lorrain.frTheir return journey, initially scheduled for November 5, was postponed after the detection of a possible impact of micro-space debris on their spacecraft.
Cracks in the window glass: Because her spaceship was damaged, three Chinese astronauts were stuck in space. The control centre on the ground is now bringing her back – but with consequences for her successor crew.
Three Chinese astronauts are returning to Earth this Friday, more than a week after their planned landing, ending a prolonged stay in space after a suspected debris impact shattered a window in their spacecraft.
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