A Chinese crew remains at the Tiangong space station due to unexpected damage to their return capsule, likely caused by minuscule space debris, as announced by China’s spaceflight agency on Wednesday.

The Shenzhou-20 mission, consisting of three astronauts, was initially set to conclude with a return to Earth on Wednesday. However, the mission’s duration has been extended as engineers examine the capsule’s damage and evaluate potential risks, according to a statement from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Their homecoming has been delayed indefinitely, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported, offering no additional information on the situation.

It appears that the crew’s return vehicle was impacted by small space debris, an increasing threat in Earth’s lower orbit. CMSA has yet to detail the damage’s severity or specify whether repairs will be necessary. Should the capsule be deemed irreparable, the Shenzhou-20 crew will follow protocol and utilize the return capsule designated for the Shenzhou-21 team to make their way back to Earth.

As they prepared for their mission, astronauts Wang Jie, Chen Zhongrui, and Chen Dong were seen waving during a farewell ceremony prior to boarding the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on April 24, 2025. (Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images)

The Shenzhou program regularly sends crews of three Chinese astronauts to and from the Tiangong space station for six-month missions, where they carry out tasks ranging from scientific experiments to repairing debris damage.

The Shenzhou-20 astronauts – mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie – arrived at Tiangong in April for a six-month rotation. They were nearing the end of their mission when the issue occurred.

Their replacements, part of the Shenzhou-21 mission, successfully docked with the station on Saturday. That crew consists of astronauts Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei and Zhang Lu.

Chinese astronauts for the Shenzhou-21 mission, from left, Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei and Zhang Lu wave as they attend a see-off ceremony at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Since launching its crewed spaceflight program in 2003, China has steadily expanded its capabilities – building its own space station and setting its sights on landing astronauts on the moon by 2030.