Chinese astronauts stranded at Tiangong after debris damages return capsule
/ Our Today
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Chalien Dantes
A trio of Chinese astronauts remains stuck aboard the Tiangong space station after their return capsule was struck by tiny fragments of space debris, according to China’s space agency.
The Shenzhou-20 crew commander Chen Dong, pilot Chen Zhongrui, and engineer Wang Jie had been preparing to head home on Wednesday after six months in orbit. Instead, engineers are now analysing the damage and running safety checks before clearing any return plan.
For now, the crew’s trip back to Earth has been put on hold indefinitely.
The impact appears to have come from minuscule pieces of orbiting junk, a growing danger for satellites and spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Officials have not said how severe the damage is or whether repairs are possible.
If the capsule can’t be safely used, the astronauts could return aboard the newer Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, which brought their replacements to Tiangong just days ago. Since launching its first crewed mission in 2003, China has rapidly advanced its space ambitions, building its own orbiting station and now aiming to put astronauts on the moon by 2030.
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