Heads up, space fans! Later this month, the Shenzhou-20 spaceship will head back to Earth on its own, without a crew. This decision comes after a tiny piece of space debris cracked its main viewport, prompting mission control to prioritize astronaut safety above all. 🚀🌌
In early November, Shenzhou-20’s crew noticed a suspicious, triangular, paint-like mark on the viewport just one day before their planned Nov 5 return. High-res photos and station cameras revealed penetrating cracks caused by debris less than a millimeter in size but traveling at extreme speed. If left unchecked, engineers warn the damage could lead to cabin depressurization.
To keep the astronauts safe, mission planners redirected them to Shenzhou-21, which brought the trio home on Nov 14. China then launched Shenzhou-22 on Nov 25 in a historic first emergency mission to deliver a fresh return vehicle and specialized repair devices to the orbital station.
Meanwhile, the current Shenzhou-21 crew—now in the midst of a six-month mission—will inspect and reinforce the cracked viewport during a future spacewalk, using tools carried by Shenzhou-22. Engineers are still validating this repair procedure in ground tests, according to Ji Qiming, spokesperson for the Chinese mainland’s manned space program.
Shenzhou-20’s upcoming uncrewed descent will produce real-world data on spacecraft safety and performance. Plus, fun fact: four mice launched on Shenzhou-21 stayed about two weeks before returning with the original Shenzhou-20 crew, all in healthy condition, says Wu Dawei from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
Stay tuned for live updates as Shenzhou-20 makes its solo journey back home and helps pave the way for even bolder space missions! 💫
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
