Crack in Orbit: Chinese Taikonauts Survive Space Debris Hit
An anomaly on China’s Shenzhou 20 mission left three taikonauts temporarily stranded in space after a tiny piece of space debris cracked the viewport. After inspection, ground crews ferried them back to Earth using the Shenzhou 21 capsule that had been sent to retrieve the relief crew, leaving Shenzhou 20 docked. The empty Shenzhou 20 was later brought back to Earth as the Shenzhou 21 crew returned in another capsule. The crew landed in Inner Mongolia on Jan. 19, 2026. The incident highlights the dangers of orbital debris and showcases China’s space program’s safety and resilience.
