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In a dramatic turn of events, a trio of Chinese astronauts who found themselves stranded on their country’s space station will finally make their way back to Earth this Friday. The unexpected delay occurred after their original spacecraft, the Shenzhou-20, was reportedly damaged by space debris. To facilitate their return, the astronauts will now utilize the Shenzhou-21, the same vehicle that transported their replacements, according to reports from state media.
The three astronauts were initially scheduled for a seamless transition following their six-month mission. Their return trip was planned to commence four days post the arrival of the new crew on November 1. However, the mission took an unforeseen twist when their designated spacecraft encountered issues believed to be caused by a collision with a fragment of debris orbiting in space.
This incident underscores the unpredictable challenges faced in space exploration. Despite the setback, preparations have been made for the astronauts’ safe return aboard the Shenzhou-21. This event highlights the resilience and adaptability required in the ever-evolving arena of space missions.
The three astronauts were on a six-month rotation at the space station and supposed to return four days after the new crew arrived on Nov. 1.
Their return was aborted after their Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was believed to have been struck by a small piece of space debris. They are coming back using the Shenzhou-21 craft instead, state media said.
The three astronauts — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie — traveled to the Tiangong space station in April.
The were “in good condition, working and living normally,” China’s Manned Space Engineering office said on Tuesday.
China has made steady progress with its space program since 2003. It has built its own space station and has a goal of landing a person on the moon by 2030.
The latest Shenzhou-21 mission brought mice for experiments, a first for China’s space program.
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