Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Shenzhou-20 crew is seen in this pre-launch image.
(Image credit: China Manned Space Agency)

Due to a suspected impact from space debris, China’s Shenzhou-20 three-person crew are delayed in their return to Earth.

It has been a week since the re-entry wave-off on November 5^th was called.

Meanwhile, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) stated on Tuesday that all preparatory work for ensuring the safe return of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship has been progressing orderly.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Implementing the plan

Related contingency plans and measures have since been put in place to comprehensively conduct simulation analysis, tests and safety analysis for the Shenzhou-20 spaceship and study the plan for implementing the crew’s return to Earth, said the CMSEO.

All systems are conducting various tests and coordinated adjustments and tests in strict accordance with the procedures as well as assessing the status of key products and checking their quality, while the landing site is organizing comprehensive rehearsals for the return mission, CMSEO added.

The Shenzhou-20 crew has been conducting scientific experiments and tests together with the newly-arrived Shenzhou-21 crew.

Astronauts on the Shenzhou-21 manned spaceship were greeted by the Shenzhou-20 crew, who they will be replacing, after successfully docking with China’s Tiangong space station in orbit on November 1 to begin the handover of duties.
Image credit: CMSA/CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Safety first

Following the decision to rearrange the crew’s return, mission planners and engineers promptly started following emergency response measures based on the principle of “putting the safety of astronauts first”, the China Manned Space Agency said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

What is not known is where the space debris struck the Shenzhou-20 return craft.

There is the possibility that an uncrewed Shenzhou-22 may be flown to China’s space station.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

A just-issued China Central Television (CCTV) video seemingly shows ground crews working at the launch site under nighttime conditions, perhaps indicating the booster and spacecraft are being readied – although this is speculation.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

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