Chinese astronauts performed an eight‑hour spacewalk to inspect a cracked Shenzhou‑20 return‑capsule window suspected to have been struck by orbital debris. CMSA declared Shenzhou‑20 unsafe for crewed descent and launched the uncrewed Shenzhou‑22 as an emergency lifeboat for the Shenzhou‑21 crew. During the EVA, astronauts documented the damage and installed an unspecified "space debris protection system." CMSA says Shenzhou‑20 may be reinforced and returned uncrewed later to gather valuable test data.
Chinese Astronauts Conduct Eight‑Hour Spacewalk to Inspect Cracked Shenzhou‑20 Window
Chinese astronauts clambered outside the company's space station to inspect damage to one of its spacecraft.
Chinese astronauts carried out an eight‑hour extravehicular activity (EVA) to inspect a cracked window on the Shenzhou‑20 return capsule after officials said the damage may have been caused by orbital debris. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) judged Shenzhou‑20 unsafe for a crewed return and launched an uncrewed emergency replacement, Shenzhou‑22, to serve as a lifeboat for the Shenzhou‑21 crew.
On‑Orbit Inspection
Mission commander Zhang Lu and crewmember Wu Fei—who at 32 became the youngest Chinese astronaut to perform an EVA—spent about eight hours outside the Tiangong space station photographing, documenting and assessing the fracture pattern on Shenzhou‑20's window. During the spacewalk they also installed what CMSA described as a "space debris protection system," though the agency has not released technical details about the device.
Rapid Response And Follow‑Up Plans
The timeline was swift: in a matter of weeks authorities discovered the cracks, declared the capsule unsafe for a crewed return, launched an uncrewed replacement, and conducted an EVA to gather direct observations. CMSA officials say Shenzhou‑20 could be reinforced during a future spacewalk and later returned to Earth without a crew to collect real‑world test data.
"Shenzhou‑20 will eventually return to Earth without a crew. That process will yield the most realistic test data, extremely valuable and meaningful for our future work," CMSA spokesman Ji Qiming told state broadcaster CCTV, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
Context And Orbit Safety
The incident highlights that China’s activity in low Earth orbit faces the same debris hazards as other operators. SpaceNews noted China had launched five rockets since December 5, including three Long March launches within 24 hours to help build a large satellite constellation, but a high launch cadence does not remove the threat of orbital junk. For example, the International Space Station has repeatedly had to perform avoidance maneuvers to dodge debris.
No injuries were reported. The Shenzhou‑20 crew returned to Earth aboard Shenzhou‑21 on November 14, and the remaining Shenzhou‑21 astronauts now have Shenzhou‑22 available as an emergency escape vehicle.
