Three astronauts on China’s Tiangong station — Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang — are awaiting a rescue mission that could arrive as soon as next week after they turned over their return capsule to the previous crew. Shenzhou-20’s capsule sustained a cracked window after suspected orbital debris struck it, forcing that crew to use Shenzhou-21’s vehicle to return to Earth. Reuters reports the damaged capsule is the first China has left behind; it may be repaired in orbit or deliberately deorbited over the Pacific. Tiangong crews typically rotate every six months, and the Shenzhou-20 mission was extended by nine days.
Rescue Mission Planned for Three Astronauts Stranded on China’s Tiangong Space Station
Three astronauts on China’s Tiangong station — Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang — are awaiting a rescue mission that could arrive as soon as next week after they turned over their return capsule to the previous crew. Shenzhou-20’s capsule sustained a cracked window after suspected orbital debris struck it, forcing that crew to use Shenzhou-21’s vehicle to return to Earth. Reuters reports the damaged capsule is the first China has left behind; it may be repaired in orbit or deliberately deorbited over the Pacific. Tiangong crews typically rotate every six months, and the Shenzhou-20 mission was extended by nine days.
02:40 AM, 11/19/2025Science
AUSTIN — Three astronauts aboard China’s Tiangong space station are expected to be rescued as soon as next week, officials said, after they handed their return vehicle to the previous crew.
The Shenzhou-21 crew — Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang — docked with Tiangong on Oct. 31 and have remained on the station after giving their spacecraft to the Shenzhou-20 team. Shenzhou-20 had been on the station for 204 days but its reentry capsule was damaged when suspected orbital debris cracked a window, forcing that crew to return to Earth in the newer Shenzhou-21 vehicle.
According to Reuters, this damaged capsule is the first Chinese spacecraft China has left behind in orbit. Authorities say the vehicle will either be repaired in orbit or deliberately deorbited over the Pacific Ocean if the damage is too severe. The docking port currently occupied by Shenzhou-21 is needed for upcoming missions, so clearing or replacing the vehicle is a priority.
The Associated Press notes that Tiangong crews typically rotate on roughly six-month schedules; the Shenzhou-20 mission was extended by nine days, making it the longest stay so far on the station. China’s Manned Space Agency has reported that the Shenzhou-21 crew is conducting experiments and remains in good spirits while awaiting the rescue mission.
“The path of human space exploration is not smooth,”
Shenzhou-20 commander Chen Dong said after returning to Earth. “It’s filled with difficulties and challenges. But that is exactly why we choose to walk this path.”
Background: Work on assembling the Tiangong station began in 2021, with the first crew docking in June of that year. China developed Tiangong after being excluded from the International Space Station program over security concerns.
Outlook: Officials are coordinating a rescue and logistics plan to restore the station’s docking capacity and ensure continuity of scientific operations. Updates are expected as mission teams confirm the recovery timeline and the fate of the damaged capsule.