Chinese Astronauts Left Stranded in Orbit as Space Debris Hits Return Module
Mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui, and engineer Wang Jie have been aboard the space station since April.
Earlier this year, I covered the safe return of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were delayed on the International Space Station due to technical problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft that morphed an 8-day stay into a 9-month adventure.
Now, three Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have been stranded in orbit after their return capsule, Shenzhou-20, was struck by space debris just before their scheduled journey back to Earth. The accident occurred as the crew was set to return after handing over station duties to the new Shenzhou-21 crew.
The Shenzhou-20 team was scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, but their mission was suddenly extended after engineers conducted an impact analysis of their spacecraft, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said in a statement.
The return craft is believed to have been hit by space junk, with the astronaut’s mission extended indefinitely, according to state broadcaster CCTV, which offered no further details.
Mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui, and engineer Wang Jie have been aboard the space station since April as part of their 6-month rotation.
Chinese astronauts stranded in space after debris strikes return capsule during missionhttps://t.co/g2yRKcvDuw
— BL Watkins (@WatkinsBl873) November 8, 2025
Apparently, there are growing calls for Elon Musk’s SpaceX to assist in a rescue, as it did with the Boeing team.
Calls are growing for billionaire Elon Musk to come to the rescue of three stranded Chinese astronauts after their return capsule was struck by space debris.
…Many online have been calling on Space X CEO Elon Musk for help after his company earlier this year came to rescue of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were stuck on the International Space Station for nine months.
“Elon Musk! Would you be able to save these Chinese astronauts?” one person wrote on X,
“@elonmusk Any plans or request from China to rescue their stranded astronauts?” another asked, tagging the billionaire.
“Elon Musk and SpaceX to the rescue??” another questioned.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, Williams has been spending time with family and building back muscle.
After Williams returned to Earth, it took time for her body to adjust. She worked out often while in space to combat bone density issues and muscle loss.
“We were in pretty good shape when we got back. The big muscles are fine,” says Williams, who was able to walk around after they landed off the coast of Florida. She admits that she’s still rather slow, but that hasn’t stopped her from going on short hikes with her husband and the dogs.
And Wilmore is slated to be the Grand Marshall of the University of Tennessee homecoming parade.
The retired astronaut and devoted Big Orange fan will be grand marshal Nov. 14 at the annual University of Tennessee Homecoming Parade. UT made the announcement Monday.
…A Tennessee native, Wilmore is a graduate of the UT Space Institute. He’s also got bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.
This past weekend, Wilmore was grand marshal for Tech’s homecoming parade.
Wilmore was a test pilot before becoming an astronaut in 2000. Wilmore spent 25 years with NASA before retiring in August.
Here’s hoping the Chinese crew returns safely.
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
Somebody with politics on the brain will loudly crow that American technology is superior to Chinese technology but that’s irrelevant. Space debris can just as easily disable our equipment as it can theirs. However, it would go a long way toward building a case for cooperation if we can get them back to Earth safely. Forget politics one time. They need to get back home – just like our people did.
.
They are coming home. The crew just arriving is staying. The crew leaving will use the arriving crews capsule. China has a spare ready to go and will send it up loaded with extra supplies while they get the next relief crews capsule/booster ready.
HOWEVER, there is a reasonable argument that a pretty large portion of space debris is up there in the first place because China throws up a lot of substandard rockets and satellites that break down too easily.
not only that, but international protocol has been to save enough reaction mass to de-orbit satellites to prevent space clutter. China doesn’t.
Offer them assistance. If they got it covered, they got it covered. If they accept, then help them.
The question is can a dragon capsule dock with a chinese station. It’s not a given. Of course they could always do a space walk over to a capsule hovering nearby.
Volunteer to bring them home for a hefty hefty fee.
Nah.
Do a Godfather — a favor to be called in later.
Life copying art…. “Gravity”.
Ho Lee Fuk and Bing Dang Ow were not immediately available for comment
I can’t help myself…flight engineer was Wi Tu Lo and the navigator was Sum Ting Wong.
Watched that in real time, one of the funniest newscasts. It’s on YouTube.
I hope the intern who perpetrated that on-air practical joke has an awesome job these days. That was an epic event in broadcast history.
Ho Li Fuk!
Maybe they can order a new one from Temu?
There will be a point at which the distribution or average density of space junk in earth’s orbit is so great that anything that goes up there has a better than even chance of getting hit during a given window of time. The more junk, the smaller the window and the greater the odds of getting hit. Just like in other dynamic situations there will be a point where critical mass is reached. For now it’s starting to look like a critical mess.
Something else happens first, called the Kessler syndrome. A collision produces more space junk, which produces more collisions, and soon all of orbital space is filled with junk and no satellites.
That’s actually called the Kenmore Syndrome.
You can see it at work in your dishwasher.
Likelihood of it being a bit of Chinese shrapnel? High.
Likelihood of Trump offering them some charity? High.
Actual effect on “China is asshoe” problem? Low.
And I still say Musk needs to invent a space garbage truck to clean all that stuff out and bring it back down here or take it to the moon to be recycled for various space things.
Dong must stay more long because something wong.
someones takeout meal is gonna be late
Much as I hate the PRC regime, I pray that their astronauts will be rescued soon.