Chinese astronauts stuck in space after debris hits spacecraft
Three Chinese astronauts—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie—are unexpectedly staying longer in space after their Shenzhou-20 mission home was delayed.
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) hit pause on their return when possible debris struck the spacecraft, prioritizing safety.
Engineers are checking damage using data and camera feeds
Engineers are busy checking out the damage using data and camera feeds from Tiangong's robotic arms.
They're still figuring out exactly where the debris hit, but forward-facing sections are generally at higher risk.
This is actually a first: no crewed mission has ever been held up by a debris impact before.
CMSA will roll out its rescue plan using Shenzhou-21
If Shenzhou-20 isn't safe for re-entry, CMSA will roll out its rescue plan using Shenzhou-21 as backup.
We should know within a few days whether the crew can come home on their current ride or need a new one.