On Friday, November 14, 2025, China's Shenzhou-21 spaceship successfully undocked from the space station combination, carrying the Shenzhou-20 crew whose return was postponed after a suspected debris impact, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The crew's return, originally scheduled for November 5, was delayed when mission control detected a minor strike from tiny space debris on the Shenzhou-20 spaceship. Intensive safety checks and inspections are now underway to ensure all systems are flight-ready.
Space debris has become a growing concern for all orbital missions. Fragments as small as a few millimeters can compromise spacecraft integrity, boosting calls for improved monitoring, collision-avoidance strategies, and advanced shielding materials.
Following undocking, Shenzhou-21 will begin its journey back to Earth, with a new landing date to be announced. CMSA has mobilized recovery teams and prepared detailed post-mission analyses to learn from this event and inform future operations.
This milestone reflects China's expanding human spaceflight program and the challenges of operating in an increasingly crowded orbital environment. As the global space community tracks the return journey, the mission underscores the vital balance between exploration and safety.
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China's Shenzhou-21 spaceship undocks from space station combination
cgtn.com
