Three astronauts who have spent months in space are now stranded following a collision with an unidentified object. Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie are currently marooned aboard the Shenzhou-20 mission on the Tiangong space station, as confirmed by China’s Manned Spaceflight Agency.
The agency stated that the crewed spacecraft Shenzhou-20 was likely hit by a small piece of orbital debris, prompting ongoing assessments of the impact and associated risks. Consequently, the planned return of the astronauts on November 5 has been postponed to prioritize their health and safety and ensure the mission’s success.
Originally scheduled to return this week, the astronauts’ journey back to Earth has been delayed due to damage sustained by the capsule’s hull from a significant impact. Concerns over space debris orbiting Earth at high speeds have been raised, highlighting potential risks to life on the planet.
Teams are now inspecting the spacecraft to determine if repairs can be made before re-entry is considered. The duration of the delay has not been disclosed by officials yet.
The Shenzhou program facilitates crew transport to and from China’s Tiangong space station for a six-month mission duration. During their stay, astronauts engage in various tasks, including station maintenance to address damage caused by debris impacts.
The Tiangong space station, also known as China’s “Heavenly Palace,” underscores the ongoing threat posed by increasing amounts of space debris to space travel. Dr. Ian Whittaker from Nottingham Trent University emphasized the potential catastrophic effects of debris impacts, despite the low probability of such incidents.
Recent concerns were raised by a space ring, believed to be from a 2008 Ariane rocket launch, crashing into a Kenyan village, highlighting the dangers associated with space debris. Dr. Whittaker stressed the escalating risks due to the growing number of objects in orbit larger than a phone, urging space companies to implement preventative measures.
He warned of the high potential for damage, emphasizing the risks to life and property from falling debris that survives re-entry. The situation serves as a reminder of the hazards posed by space debris and the importance of addressing this issue for future space missions.
