Shenzhou-20 Crew Returns to Earth Aboard Relief Craft Following Debris Delay

Three Chinese astronauts from the Shenzhou-20 mission safely returned to Earth on Friday, November 14, 2025, concluding a six-month expedition aboard the Tiangong space station that was marked by an unforeseen postponement of their departure. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed the return after an orbital debris incident necessitated a change in the descent plan.

The original departure for the Shenzhou-20 crew, consisting of Commander Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, was scheduled for November 5, 2025. This date was suspended following the arrival of the relief crew, Shenzhou-21, on October 31, 2025, as a safety precaution. The CMSA later revealed that "tiny cracks" were discovered in a small window of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule, believed to be the result of an impact from space debris. Consequently, the original Shenzhou-20 vehicle was deemed not to meet the safety standards for a crewed return and was designated to remain in orbit to conduct further experiments.

The three astronauts ultimately returned aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, successfully separating from the Tiangong station at 11:14 a.m. (0314 GMT) on Friday. The crew landed at the Dongfeng landing site in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with the CMSA reporting that all three were in "good condition." This contingency required a rare dual-crew operation aboard Tiangong, where the Shenzhou-20 crew overlapped with the Shenzhou-21 crew, led by Commander Zhang Lu, for an extended period to manage the situation while continuing the station's scientific agenda.

The Shenzhou-20 crew launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 2F rocket on April 24, 2025, beginning their rotation. Their mission involved scientific investigations, including life science studies, and the installation of protective devices against space debris. This incident underscores the growing operational risk posed by orbital congestion, a concern China has previously addressed by performing avoidance maneuvers for the Tiangong station against potential debris fragments.

China continues to advance its long-term space goals, including plans for a crewed lunar landing by 2030. The successful resolution of the contingency, which included the transfer of the crew to the Shenzhou-21 vehicle for descent, demonstrates the established contingency planning for the Tiangong station, which has been continuously occupied since June 2021. The station is also preparing for future international engagement, including the planned arrival of a Pakistani astronaut next year.