Following a space debris incident, China is preparing to launch an uncrewed Shenzhou spacecraft to the Tiangong space station. The purpose of this mission is to provide the Shenzhou-21 astronauts with a reliable means of returning to Earth.
A recently issued airspace closure notice, dated November 17, indicates that China is preparing the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft and a Long March 2F rocket for launch. The launch is scheduled for approximately 11:10 p.m. Eastern on November 24 (0410 UTC, November 25) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, situated in the Gobi Desert. While the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) has yet to officially announce the plan, preparations are clearly underway.
This action was prompted after the Shenzhou-20 crew was compelled to utilize the newly arrived Shenzhou-21 spacecraft for their return on November 14, due to damage sustained by their own Shenzhou-20 spacecraft from a collision with space debris. This situation leaves the current Shenzhou-21 astronauts, consisting of commander Zhang Lu and crewmates Zhang Hongzhang and Wu Fei, potentially without a contingency plan in the event of an emergency aboard Tiangong.
Shenzhou-21 was launched on October 31, commencing the crew's six-month mission. Control of Tiangong was transferred to them on November 4 by the departing Shenzhou-20 crew. However, their scheduled departure on November 5 was delayed when a suspected debris impact damaged a viewport window on Shenzhou-20.
According to Zhou Yaqiang, an official with the CMSEO, speaking on China Central Television on November 15, Shenzhou-22, originally slated to transport the next crew to Tiangong around April-May 2026, will now launch without a crew. Zhou added that the spacecraft will carry food, supplies, and equipment for the astronauts and the space station.
The extended stay of the Shenzhou-20 astronauts placed additional strain on Tiangong’s resources. CMSEO previously stated that the Long March 2F rocket and Shenzhou spacecraft for the subsequent mission were kept in a state of near-readiness at Jiuquan to address potential emergencies on Tiangong, capable of being readied in as little as 8.5 days.
The launch is scheduled 20 days following the discovery of the damage to Shenzhou-20. Factors affecting the preparation timeline include the availability of launch pads, weather conditions, safety considerations, orbital mechanics, and the overall condition of the spacecraft and launcher.
CMSEO stated on November 14: “Based on preliminary analysis of photographs, design review, simulation analysis, and wind tunnel testing, a comprehensive assessment determined that the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft’s return capsule window glass had developed a minor crack, most likely caused by an external impact from space debris, thus failing to meet the requirements for a safe crewed return. The Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft will remain in orbit to conduct relevant experiments.”
The Shenzhou-20 astronauts, commander Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, arrived in Beijing on November 15, following their landing near Jiuquan on November 14. They will now undergo a period of quarantine and recovery.