Story perspectives

Space Junk Forces Emergency Return for Shenzhou-21 Mission

12/9/2025

Summary

Story summary

A piece of space junk cracked the window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, triggering an emergency return mission aboard Shenzhou-21.
The emergency launch was China's first, as the Tiangong space station crew waited 11 days for a flightworthy vehicle.
On December 9, astronauts conducted a spacewalk to install debris protection and inspect the window.
The window will be reinforced in future missions, underscoring space-debris risks to China's expanding program.

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Story summary

A piece of space junk cracked the window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, triggering an emergency return mission aboard Shenzhou-21.
The emergency launch was China's first, as the Tiangong space station crew waited 11 days for a flightworthy vehicle.
On December 9, astronauts conducted a spacewalk to install debris protection and inspect the window.
The window will be reinforced in future missions, underscoring space-debris risks to China's expanding program.