China's Shenzhou-20 spacecraft will make an unprecedented uncrewed return to Earth following a micrometeoroid strike detected on its viewport, officials announced this week. The incident marks the first emergency spacecraft replacement in China's manned space program history.
Three astronauts originally assigned to Shenzhou-20 were safely returned to Earth via Shenzhou-21 on November 14 after ground teams identified penetrating cracks in the spacecraft's window. A subsequent emergency launch of Shenzhou-22 on November 25 ensured continued crew support at the Tiangong space station.
Chief designer Jia Shijin revealed the damage resulted from a sub-millimeter space debris particle traveling at hypervelocity. "Our simulations show such impacts could potentially compromise cabin integrity," Jia stated during a CCTV interview, emphasizing the decision prioritized astronaut safety.
The current Shenzhou-21 crew may conduct extravehicular inspections of the damaged module using specialized tools delivered by Shenzhou-22. Ground teams are validating repair protocols through wind tunnel tests while monitoring the spacecraft's condition.
Notably, four space-traveling mice returned healthy after an extended 14-day orbital stay aboard Shenzhou-21. The rodents' unexpected prolonged mission provided valuable biological data, according to China Astronaut Research and Training Center officials.
Ji Qiming, spokesperson for China's manned space program, confirmed the uncrewed Shenzhou-20 return will yield critical engineering data for future mission planning. The incident demonstrates China's evolving capabilities in rapid orbital response and crew safety systems.
