The Shenzhou-22 space capsule docks at China’s Tiangong space station on Tuesday, just 20 days after Chinese space officials determined that one of two at the station was rendered unsafe when it was hit with space debris. Photo courtesy China Manned Space
China’s uncrewed Shenzhou-22 space vessel arrived at the Tiangong space station on Tuesday morning, avoiding the potential stranding of three Chinese astronauts on the orbiting space outpost.
The Chinese space agency launched the vessel on Tuesday after space debris rendered one of two Shenzhou capsules docked at Tiangong unsafe, triggering an emergency launch to replace the craft.
Officials in the Chinese space program said the mission’s success in replacing its astronauts’ lifeboat demonstrated the advantages of its “one-for-one, rolling backup” strategy, calling it an effective test of the program’s rapid response and ability to handle emergencies.
“The entire project team responded calmly and scientifically, with all participating research and testing units working together to overcome difficulties,” officials at China Manned Space said in a statement.
“Within 20 days, they steadily and efficiently completed tasks such as risk analysis and assessment … providing a successful example for the international aerospace field in efficiently responding to emergencies,” they said.
Shenzhou-22 spacecraft carries a specialized device designed to address the crack in the Shenzhou-20 window, along with space food, medical supplies, fresh fruits and vegetables, and spare parts for the space station https://t.co/ecrimcWALX pic.twitter.com/Ndh2opLoc8— China 'N Asia Spaceflight ️ (@CNSpaceflight) November 25, 2025
China launched its Shenzhou-21 mission atop a Long March 2F rocket on Oct. 31, sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station for a six-month mission.
Once there, the astronauts were greeted by the three-member Shenzhou-20 crew, which was scheduled to depart the station on Nov. 5 aboard the capsule it had flown to the station.
An inspection of the Shenzhou-20 capsule ahead of undocking for the trip back to Earth revealed a “minor crack” in its window glass, likely caused by space debris, leading officials to delay the crew’s return to “conduct relevant experiments” to determine if the spacecraft was safe to fly.
Officials decided to bring the Shenzhou-20 astronauts home aboard the Shenzhou-21 capsule on Nov. 13, and as they returned to Earth four hours later in the early morning of Nov. 14, the rest of the agency was preparing for an emergency launch of a replacement capsule.
Launching the replacement capsule on Nov. 25, and docking hours later, to replace the Shenzhou-21 crew’s space craft — leaving them stranded for about a week-and-a-half — “fully demonstrates the advantages of the new national system,” officials said in the statement.
They added that the emergency experience verified the “scientific reliability of the ‘one-for-one, rolling backup’ for China’s space station mission.”
Agency officials now will prepare another backup emergency launch rocket that is available for use, should it be needed, officials said, adding that Shenzhou-20 will remain docked at the station for experiments, further analysis and possibly to repair the cracked window.
