Three Chinese Astronauts Stranded After Spacecraft Mix-Up Raises Safety Concerns
Three Chinese astronauts are now stuck on the Tiangong space station after an unexpected twist in their mission. The incident occurred shortly after their colleagues returned to Earth in the wrong spacecraft. As a result, the new crew currently has no safe way home.The Shenzhou-21 team includes Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang. They reached the station on Oct. 31 after launching on a Long March 2F rocket. Their goal was to replace the Shenzhou-20 crew, who were scheduled to head back to Earth in early November.
How the Situation Unfolded
The two teams completed a smooth handover. However, things changed quickly. A piece of suspected space debris struck the Shenzhou-20 return capsule. In addition, tests later showed a crack in the capsule’s viewing port. Therefore, engineers decided it was unsafe for reentry.The Shenzhou-20 astronauts needed a reliable escape option. As a result, they boarded the return capsule meant for the Shenzhou-21 crew. They safely landed on Nov. 14. While this move protected the crew, it left the new taikonauts without their designated ride home.
Growing Safety Concerns
This situation has raised questions about China’s safety protocols in space. Experts believe the incident shows how fragile return plans can be. It also highlights the growing threat of space junk orbiting the planet. Many researchers warn that debris collisions could become more common.China will now need to send another return capsule. However, officials have not shared a timeline yet. The stranded astronauts remain safe for now, as the station holds enough supplies. Even so, people around the world are watching closely and hoping for a quick solution.
