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Space Debris Delays Chinese Astronauts' Return to Earth
- On Nov 5, China Manned Space Agency said Shenzhou-20 delayed its return after a suspected debris strike, with impact analysis underway; it was originally set to land in northern China on Nov 5.
- In recent years, the rapid increase in space junk has raised concerns about collision risks, and the 2024 United Nations panel on space traffic coordination urged a shared orbital objects database.
- China has invested in laser monitoring technology and deorbiting `sails`, and Beijing says Tiangong performed two emergency avoidance manoeuvres in 2021 while Shenzhou-19's return was delayed one day by weather.
- The delay marks the first time a Chinese return mission faces debris-related postponement, while Beijing and Washington continue trading accusations over debris-creating behaviour.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a joint `space debris observation centre` in 2024, while China's permanent mission to the UN accused the United States of past anti-satellite tests creating large debris fields.
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Three Chinese astronauts were forced to extend their six-month stay in space due to concerns that their return spacecraft may have been hit by debris, China's space agency reported.
China Says Mystery Object Appears to Have Struck Ship That Its Space Station Astronauts Were Supposed to Return Home In
China was forced to postpone the return of three astronauts from its Tiangong space station following a suspected collision with space debris that appears to have struck the spacecraft they were supposed to return in. As the New York Times reports, the China Manned Space Agency is still investigating the hair-raising incident. “The Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft is suspected to have been struck by a small piece of orbital debris, and assessment o…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources86
Leaning Left17Leaning Right8Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution49% Center
Bias Distribution
- 49% of the sources are Center
49% Center
L 35%
C 49%
R 16%
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