Chinese Astronauts Fit Debris Shield on Tiangong After Shenzhou Window Was Cracked

BEIJING — Chinese astronauts have installed new protection against orbital debris on the permanently crewed Tiangong space station, authorities said, roughly a month after a tiny, high-speed fragment cracked the Shenzhou-20 return capsule’s window.

Spacewalk Adds Shielding

Two members of the Shenzhou-21 crew conducted a spacewalk to install the debris protection using Tiangong’s robotic arm, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said. The work aimed to reduce the risk of a repeat incident after last month’s damage forced an unprecedented change in crew return plans.

What Happened To Shenzhou-20

In early November, a small piece of orbital debris struck and cracked the Shenzhou-20 return capsule window just before the spacecraft was due to depart Tiangong with three astronauts aboard. Officials judged the damage serious enough to delay that crew’s return.

Emergency Launch And Contingency Measures

With Shenzhou-20 rendered unfit for immediate return, the crew instead came home aboard Shenzhou-21, prompting China’s first recorded emergency launch after the Shenzhou-21 team spent 11 days without a flightworthy vessel. CMSEO said the incident underlined the growing hazard posed by space debris, which can originate from satellite breakups, collisions or anti-satellite tests and linger in orbit for years.

Inspection And Next Steps

During the recent spacewalk, the astronauts also inspected and photographed the cracked window on Shenzhou-20, which remains docked to Tiangong. CMSEO said the damaged vehicle will be returned uncrewed to a Chinese landing site for detailed examination and that Shenzhou-21 crew could carry out further reinforcement of the window on future spacewalks if needed.

Why It Matters: The episode highlights both the vulnerability of crewed spacecraft to tiny, fast-moving debris and the importance of rapid contingency planning to protect astronauts and maintain station operations.

(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Alison Williams)