China Plans Rescue Mission After Spacecraft Damage
Beijing – China is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of its astronauts in space. Following a recent incident where a spacecraft window was damaged, causing a delay in the return of the Shenzhou 20 mission, China has launched the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft.
The Shenzhou 22 is scheduled to be used in 2026 to bring back the three astronauts who are currently stationed on the Tiangong space station, who arrived on Nov 1. The previous crew from the Shenzhou 20 mission experienced a nine-day delay due to the damage, eventually returning safely aboard the Shenzhou 21, which had carried the replacement crew to the station.
The damaged Shenzhou 20 will be brought back to Earth for assessment, as it did not meet safety standards for astronaut transport.
China’s space program, which is run by the People’s Liberation Army, has been rapidly advancing, with the Tiangong space station being a major focus. This development came after China was excluded from the International Space Station due to U.S. national security concerns. The Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” hosted its first crew in 2021 and is smaller than the International Space Station, which has been operating for 25 years.
