Details have emerged explaining the decision to extend the mission of the crew aboard the “Shenzhou-21” spacecraft, operating at the Tiangong orbital station, by approximately one month.
The reason stems from an incident that occurred late last year, which compelled the prior crew to return to Earth not in their original craft, but via “Shenzhou-21.” This spacecraft subsequently undocked from the Chinese orbital facility and completed its return journey in November 2025.
The decision to utilize the backup vessel was made following confirmation of issues with the primary spacecraft. Officials verified that “Shenzhou-20” is no longer viable for a safe descent: minute fissures were detected in the hatch of the re-entry module, suspected to have been caused by an impact with space debris.
Consequently, the present expedition is now tied to an adjusted launch schedule and must await the arrival of the subsequent spacecraft, “Shenzhou-22.” This waiting period is essential for reinstating standard safety protocols, which mandate the presence of a backup crewed vehicle in orbit.
This supplemental time allows China to revert the system to its normal operational layout. During this interval, plans are in place to transport the next spacecraft, “Shenzhou-24,” to the launch site, where it will become integrated into the revised sequence of missions, ensuring the station’s continued stable operation.
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