China Launches Emergency Mission to Its Space Station, Putting NASA to Shame

"Earlier this month, the China Manned Space Agency was forced to delay the return of three astronauts from its Tiangong space station after they discovered "tiny cracks" in their return capsule's window, likely from a space debris strike. Instead of using the damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, which remains docked at the station, the crew took the only other spacecraft available to them for their November 14 return: the Shenzhou-21, which had arrived at the station in late October with a replacement crew aboard."

"That left the new crew that'd arrived on the Shenzhou-21 in a pickle, though, because the craft they'd ridden to the station had now departed, leaving them with no place to shelter or return to Earth in case of an emergency, such as another space debris collision or unexpected equipment failure. At least, until CNSA pulled off a pretty impressive move."

Three astronauts' return from Tiangong was delayed after tiny cracks were found in their Shenzhou-20 return capsule window, likely caused by space debris. The crew instead returned on Shenzhou-21, which had arrived earlier with a replacement crew, leaving that replacement crew stranded without an emergency return vehicle. Less than two weeks later, China launched an uncrewed Shenzhou-22 that successfully docked to the station to serve as a potential rescue craft and to bring the current astronauts home. The launch occurred from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre and was declared a complete success by CMSA. The rapid response underscores China's growing orbital capabilities.

Read at Futurism