NEED TO KNOW
- Three Chinese astronauts have had their return to Earth delayed, believing their spaceship may have been hit by debris
- Their replacements arrived at the Chinese space station on Nov. 1, shortly before their return trip was postponed
- “The impact analysis and risk assessment are under way,” said China’s National Space Administration
A group of Chinese astronauts have delayed their return to Earth out of concern that their spaceship was hit by debris.
The three astronauts — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie — were due to return from space on Wednesday, Nov. 5, according to the Associated Press and CNN.
However, China’s National Space Administration reportedly has said their Shenzhou-20 spaceship may have been hit by debris, delaying the astronauts’ return.
State broadcaster CCTV has said the astronauts’ return trip will now be pushed back, but did not specify a date, the AP reported.
“The impact analysis and risk assessment are under way,” China’s National Space Administration said, noting that the delay was to protect the astronauts’ health and safety, according to CNN.
The three astronauts had just completed a six-month mission when the incident occurred, according to the AP. The astronauts slated to replace the trio arrived at the Chinese space station on Saturday, Nov. 1.
CCTV even aired a ceremony in which the keys to the space station were passed from the old crew to the new crew, CNN reported.
“We are about to return to Earth, and now I am handing over the hatch key that symbolizes the right to maintain operations on this Chinese space station to you,” Dong said at the time.
This incident comes nearly eight months after two American astronauts returned home after they were stranded in space for nine months.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were at the International Space Station from June 2024 to March 2025 after mechanical issues with their spaceship prevented them from returning to Earth. Originally, they only expected to be in space for 10 days.
After they returned home, Williams said she and Wilmore tried to “make the best” out of their situation.
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“We planned, we trained, that we would be there for some part of a time, so we were ready to just jump into it and take on the tasks that were given to us,” Williams said.
Wilmore added, “It’s not about me. It’s not about my feelings. It’s about what this human space flight program is about. It’s our national goals. And I have to wrap my mind around, what does our nation need out of me right now?”
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