Cracks in Shenzhou Window Expose Greater Space-Junk Risk
New details show cracks in the Shenzhou return capsule’s viewport penetrated the window, likely from space debris, with astronauts using a pen-shaped microscope to inspect them. A porthole crack repair device was deployed, a replacement crewless capsule was sent, and the damaged capsule landed in Mongolia on Jan 19. The incident underscores growing space-junk hazards as satellite megaconstellations expand.