Chinese capsule damaged by space-junk strike returns to Earth

Chinese capsule damaged by space-junk strike returns to Earth

The first emergency operation in the history of China's human spaceflight program ended on Jan. 19 when an uncrewed Shenzhou 20 capsule damaged by a space-junk strike came safely down to Earth.

Damaged Chinese Spacecraft Returned to Earth – The Makings of an Emergency Mission

China’s first emergency operation in its human spaceflight program came to an end as an uncrewed Shenzhou 20 return capsule parachuted into the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on January 19. The spacecraft had spent 270 days in orbit, docked for nine months to the country’s Tiangong space station. And […]

Shenzhou-20's Return: A Milestone Emergency Response

Shenzhou-20's Return: A Milestone Emergency Response | China Space StationThe return capsule of the debris-hit Shenzhou-20 spacecraft landed safely back on Earth on January 19, 2026, after an extended stay in orbit, with engineers hailing the return as another landmark test passed by the country's space program.The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed the capsule touched down safely at the Dongfeng Landing Site in north China's Inner Mongo…