China delays astronauts’ homecoming over fears of return ship-debris collision

Three Chinese astronauts, who were supposed to return to earth on Wednesday, would have to extend their six-month-long stay over concerns their return ship may have been hit by debris, China’s space agency has announced.

Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie’s return is now postponed after the National Space Administration said that their Shenzhou-20 spaceship was impacted by space debris. The three astronauts were all set to come back home today and had even handed over the keys to the Chinese space station to a new crew.

“The impact analysis and risk assessment are under way,” the space agency said, without mentioning when the astronauts might return.

The development comes after China sent three more astronauts to space last week. Astronauts Zhang Hongzhang and Wu Fei set on their maiden voyage to space last Friday, accompanied by four mice.

Upon their arrival, state-owned CCTV broadcast a handover ceremony showing the crews of both ships gathered in a small compartment, signing documents on a floating board.

“We are about to return to Earth, and now I am handing over the hatch key that symbolizes the right to maintain operations on this Chinese space station to you,” said Chen Dong.

Beijing’s space programme is the third to put humans in orbit, after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

China has ramped up plans to achieve its “space dream” under President Xi Jinping, successfully landing its Chang’e-4 probe on the far side of the Moon in 2019, the first spacecraft to do so.

It then landed a small robot on Mars in 2021.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) outlined a series of “crucial upcoming tests” it was undertaking in preparation for its 2030 Moon goal.

In addition to advancing scientific research, the Shenzhou-21 crew is expected to go on spacewalks and install anti-debris shields on Tiangong’s exterior.

With inputs from agencies