Chinese Astronauts' Return Delayed After Debris Hits Spacecraft
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Alignment
Three taikonauts — the term for Chinese astronauts — aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station have had their trip home postponed after a piece of space debris struck their return capsule. Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie were set to return to Earth on November 5, 2025, after handing over duties to the Shenzhou-21 mission crew. But just hours before departure, engineers found signs of damage to the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, forcing officials to delay the trip.
"Preliminary analysis suggests a small fragment of orbital debris may have impacted the return capsule. The situation is stable, and the crew is in good condition," the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said in a statement.
The spacecraft is made up of three sections. They include the engine and power module, crew living quarters, and a parachute-assisted return module. If any of these are deemed unsafe, it will return to Earth without the crew on board. In that case, the taikonauts will come home on the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft. The CMSA will then send another spacecraft to replace it.
Regardless of how they return, the event highlights the growing danger of space debris. Millions of fragments from old satellites, rocket parts, and other objects now orbit Earth at very high speeds. Even tiny pieces can damage spacecraft, delay missions, or pose a threat to crews. Experts say that as more satellites and space missions are launched, countries must work together to track debris and prevent accidents.
Credit: Livescience.com, Arstechnica.com, Space.com
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
11 Comments
aqua_eevee1 daywhat?! i hope they are safe, :(.
justicforslider1 dayAblute crizy I hop the gep bac safly
resaray52 daysThat's crazy!!!!!
ilovebunnies2 daysOh my daze! That is crazy. I hope they don't get hurt or crash up there.- aqua_eevee1 dayme too,
dabyk2 daysOh my goodness. I didn't know they were stranded in space
hazopemosela2 daysAwesome!!!!! I love space and this is wonderful new info.
qwertyasd3333 daysInteresting.
makayla_miq5 daysvery nice.
gimkitlover5 daysCool!
ueeaueea5 dayswow