Chinese astronauts stranded in space after suspected debris strike
The return mission, which was originally set for 5 November, has now been postponed with no new date confirmed
A suspected collision with space debris has delayed the return of three Chinese astronauts from the Tiangong space station, underscoring growing concerns about safety in low-Earth orbit.
China's human spaceflight agency announced on Wednesday that the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft may have been struck by a small object, possibly a fragment of man-made space junk or a micrometeorite.
The return mission, which was originally set for 5 November, has now been postponed with no new date confirmed.
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"The Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft is suspected of being struck by a small piece of space debris, and impact analysis and risk assessment are underway," said the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) in a statement.
"To ensure the safety and health of the astronauts and the complete success of the mission, it has been decided that the Shenzhou 20 return mission will be postponed."
The spacecraft, launched in April from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, carries commander Chen Dong and crewmates Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie.
Their replacements, the Shenzhou-21 crew, arrived at Tiangong on 31 October for their six-month stay. For now, both crews will remain aboard the station while engineers assess the extent of the damage.
Even a particle travelling at several kilometres per second can cause severe harm to a spacecraft. Analysts say particular attention will be given to the heat shield and parachute systems, both vital for a safe return to Earth.
If Shenzhou-20 is deemed unsafe, China may use the newly arrived Shenzhou-21 for the crew's journey home. A backup craft is also reportedly ready for launch in case of emergency.
