China to Launch Uncrewed Replacement Spacecraft After Debris Cracks Tiangong Return Capsule

Replacement Shenzhou to Launch After Debris Damages Return Capsule

China has set a target date to launch an uncrewed spacecraft to the Tiangong space station after orbital debris apparently cracked a window on a docked return capsule. The damage sidelined the SZ-20 capsule, which had been slated to bring the Shenzhou 21 crew home, leaving the crew temporarily without a dedicated return vehicle.

What happened: An apparent debris impact left visible cracks in a window on the SZ-20 capsule. That vehicle had carried the Shenzhou 20 crew to Tiangong in April 2025 and was to serve as the return vehicle for the current Shenzhou 21 team. After inspectors judged SZ-20 unfit for reentry, the Shenzhou 20 crewmembers returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, which meant the Shenzhou 21 crew had no immediate lifeboat.

Planned response: An airspace-closure notice and state media reporting indicate China is targeting Nov. 25 for a launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia to send a replacement Shenzhou spacecraft (designated Shenzhou 22) to Tiangong. A China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) representative told CCTV that "the mission for launching the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft has been initiated, with preparations for all systems in full swing, including testing the spacecraft and rocket components and preparing the cargo."

CMSA (translated): "The mission for launching the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft has been initiated, with preparations for all systems in full swing."

The flight will also carry food and additional supplies for the Shenzhou 21 crew — commander Zhang Lu, Zhang Hongzhang and Wu Fei — who began a planned six-month mission aboard Tiangong on Oct. 31.

Timing and constraints: Shenzhou 22 had originally been scheduled for April–May 2026, but China's space program reportedly maintains a ready Long March 2F rocket and spare Shenzhou vehicle that can be accelerated to launch in as few as 8.5 days, according to SpaceNews. However, successful rendezvous and docking require favorable orbital alignment between the station and the launch site; by the time the replacement vehicle launches and reaches Tiangong, close to three weeks may have passed since the damage was discovered.

Broader context: This is the second high-profile incident in two years in which crews were left effectively without a dedicated return craft. In June 2024, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams reached the International Space Station aboard Boeing's first crewed Starliner flight but were not returned on that vehicle after it experienced helium leaks and thruster issues. Their planned short visit stretched into nearly nine months, and they ultimately returned on a SpaceX Crew Dragon launched with extra seats available.

Some spaceflight experts say such cases are a wake-up call for an international space rescue capability. Formal cooperation between NASA and China's space agency is, however, generally restricted by U.S. law, limiting direct joint rescue planning between the two programs.

What to watch: Monitor official CMSA and state media updates for confirmation of the Nov. 25 launch window, any schedule adjustments driven by orbital mechanics, and status reports on the SZ-20 inspection.