Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

China postpones return of Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship


(MENAFN) China’s Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft, originally set to return on Wednesday, has had its landing postponed due to a suspected collision with tiny space debris, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced. Analysis and risk assessment are currently underway, according to a Chinese news agency.

“The decision to delay the return aims to ensure the astronauts’ safety and mission success,” the agency said, though no new return date has been announced.

The Shenzhou-20 crew recently completed an in-orbit handover with the Shenzhou-21 team aboard the Chinese Space Station. The astronauts have now spent 188 days in orbit. Commander Chen Dong has become the first Chinese astronaut to exceed 400 cumulative days in space and holds the record for the most Chinese spacewalks, with six extravehicular activities.

On Friday, China launched its sixth crewed mission to the Tiangong space station, carrying three astronauts—including the youngest-ever Chinese astronaut—and four mice for onboard experiments.

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