China Launches Emergency Uncrewed Mission to Rescue Stranded Astronauts at Tiangong

China has initiated an urgent space mission to address a rare rescue scenario aboard its Tiangong space station after a crew found themselves without a viable return capsule.

The incident began when the return vehicle used by the Shenzhou‑20 mission was found to have sustained damage—believed to be caused by space debris, forcing the three taikonauts on board to extend their stay in orbit.

In response, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) fast-tracked the launch of the uncrewed Shenzhou‑22 spacecraft aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The mission lifted off on 25 November 2025 and successfully docked with Tiangong, restoring the station’s capacity for safe crew return.

The stranded crew, who arrived aboard Shenzhou-20 and were scheduled to return earlier, remained aboard the station longer than planned while engineering teams assessed the damage to their original return vehicle.

Their extended stay occurred simultaneously with the arrival of the Shenzhou-21 team, which took over station operations. The backup spaceship will now serve as the returning vehicle for both crews under revised scheduling.

Given that the station typically maintains continuous access to a return craft for safety, this situation is unprecedented for China’s space programme.

CMSA reported the astronauts were healthy and engaged in normal operations while preparations for the repair and return progressed.

Analysts point to the incident as highlighting the growing risks posed by space debris in low Earth orbit and the need for robust lifeboat protocols even on well-planned missions.

This high-profile rescue underscores China’s rapid advancement in crewed spaceflight capability and its growing confidence in executing contingency missions.

At the same time, the episode puts a spotlight on the station’s resilience and the wider implications for orbital safety architecture as more nations and commercial players launch hardware into similar orbital regimes.

Source: Associated Press, Al Jazeera