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Three Astronauts Are Stranded In Space Again, After Their Ride Home Was Struck By Space Junk
Three astronauts remain in low-Earth orbit after their spacecraft was hit by debris, prompting a postponed return mission to ensure safety, China Manned Space Agency said.
- On November 5, the China Manned Space Agency said the Shenzhou-20 return will be postponed after the spacecraft was suspected of a small debris strike, leaving astronauts Wang Jie, Chen Zhongrui, and Chen Dong stranded.
- The Kessler effect describes how a collision can trigger cascading damage in low-Earth orbit, highlighting the growing problem of space debris that agencies attempt to mitigate through cleanup missions.
- The replacement crew for Tiangong arrived on the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on October 31, aligning with standard six-month rotations that set the April 2025 departure as routine.
- Immediate schedules and station operations remain unsettled as assessments continue since it is unclear when the Tiangong crew will return or if the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft will be used, and experts warn debris could disrupt communications and low-Earth orbit operational zones.
- The Shenzhou-20 delay highlights why debris removal initiatives are gaining urgency, as the incident underscores the operational priority of debris cleanup following the Boeing Starliner malfunction that left astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stranded.
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Will Elon Musk rescue the 3 Chinese astronauts stuck in space? Worldwide outcry mounts
A global plea is urging Elon Musk to rescue three Chinese astronauts stranded in space after an 'unknown object' damaged their return capsule. The incident, believed to be caused by space debris, has drawn comparisons to a past NASA rescue facilitated by SpaceX. China has a backup vehicle on standby, but public sentiment favors Musk's intervention.
·India
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Chinese astronauts are trapped in space after their spacecraft was hit by space debris.
They can't go back to Earth because of the ship's damage.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 25%
R 25%
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