The return of the Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou-20 to Earth has been delayed due to a possible strike by space debris, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) reported on Wednesday, according to LETA citing AFP.
It is believed that Shenzhou-20 may have been affected by small fragments of space debris, which is why an analysis and risk assessment is currently being conducted, the agency reported.
For safety reasons, the scheduled return of the spacecraft and the three astronauts on board has been postponed indefinitely.
Last week, the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft arrived at the Chinese space station Tiangong ("Heavenly Palace") with a new crew of astronauts.
Crew rotations on Tiangong typically occur every six months and involve three people.
China began sending people into space in 2003. The Tiangong station is considered the culmination of these efforts and a source of pride for Beijing — it is the second crewed space station after the International Space Station (ISS), which is operated by NASA. China is barred from accessing the ISS.
China aims to send a crew of astronauts to the Moon by the end of this decade, and in the longer term, to build a lunar base.
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