China’s Damaged Shenzhou 20 Returns for Uncrewed Inspection

 

In a rare and complex maneuver, China’s space agency has initiated the return of the Shenzhou 20 crew capsule to Earth for an uncrewed inspection after the spacecraft sustained damage while docked at the Tiangong space station. This action marks a departure from standard operating procedure, as crew capsules are typically only sent back with astronauts aboard or jettisoned if damaged beyond repair. The decision underscores the severity of the incident and the critical importance of investigating the cause.

The Need for Inspection

The Shenzhou 20, which had carried a recent crew complement to the Tiangong, reportedly suffered damage—likely from a micrometeoroid impact or space debris strike—while serving as a life raft for the taikonauts. While the crew was successfully and safely returned by a separate, freshly launched spacecraft (Shenzhou 21), the damaged Shenzhou 20 remains a subject of intense technical interest.

Bringing the vehicle back uncrewed allows engineers to conduct a forensic analysis of the damage in laboratory conditions. This detailed examination is vital for several reasons:

Safety Assessment: To determine the precise extent of the damage and confirm whether the capsule would have remained safe for a crewed return journey.

Mitigation Planning: The findings will inform future design modifications for the Shenzhou fleet, particularly regarding shielding for vital areas, ensuring enhanced protection against space debris for future missions.

Space Environment Data: The analysis provides crucial, tangible data on the hazards posed by the increasingly crowded low-Earth orbit environment.

A Complex Uncrewed Return

While crewed Shenzhou returns are routine, an uncrewed re-entry and landing require meticulous planning. The descent module must rely entirely on automated systems for crucial steps: de-orbit burn, separation from the orbital module, atmospheric re-entry angle control, and the deployment of the parachutes and braking rockets for a soft landing.

The success of this complex maneuver, and the resulting inspection, will be instrumental in the development of China’s space program, ensuring the long-term safety and operational continuity of the Tiangong space station and its rotating crews of taikonauts. The investigation’s results are expected to be shared with international partners as part of the global effort to mitigate space debris risk.