The Chinese mainland's manned space authority, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), announced that the return of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will be postponed after a suspected impact from tiny space debris.
CMSA teams are now conducting a detailed impact analysis and risk assessment to inspect the spacecraft's heat shield and critical systems. By delaying splashdown, engineers aim to safeguard the astronauts and secure mission success.
Shenzhou-20, launched earlier this year as part of the Chinese mainland's space station program, has carried out a series of in-orbit experiments and docked with the core module. The agency will announce a new landing date once all technical checks are complete.
At orbital speeds exceeding 27,000 kilometers per hour, even millimeter-sized debris can generate dangerous shocks. This incident underscores a rising global challenge: tracking and mitigating micro-debris as more nations and private ventures enter low Earth orbit.
Space enthusiasts and tech-watchers alike will be following CMSA’s updates for the revised touchdown plan. The careful, data-driven approach reflects broader efforts to keep crewed missions safe and sustainable in an increasingly crowded space environment.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
