Imagine the vast, unforgiving expanse of space, where even the tiniest speck of human-made debris can turn a routine mission into a heart-pounding crisis – and that's exactly what happened with China's Shenzhou 20 spacecraft. But here's where it gets controversial: is our growing orbital trash heap a ticking time bomb for future space exploration, or can we engineer our way out of this mess? Let's dive into the details of this recent incident, breaking it down step by step so even newcomers to space news can follow along easily.
Chinese astronauts recently conducted an in-depth examination of the damaged Shenzhou 20 spacecraft during an 8-hour spacewalk, offering a firsthand glimpse at the havoc that space junk – those abandoned satellites, rocket parts, and other fragments orbiting Earth – can wreak. For beginners, think of space junk as the forgotten leftovers from decades of space activities; it's like highway litter, but at speeds fast enough to punch holes in spacecraft. A classic example is the 2009 collision between an active satellite and a defunct one, creating thousands of new debris pieces that still pose risks today.
The Shenzhou 20 mission kicked off in late April, when the spacecraft docked at the Tiangong space station with three astronauts onboard for a standard six-month stay. Initially scheduled to return to Earth on November 5, the crew's homecoming was unexpectedly delayed after inspections uncovered cracks in the spacecraft's windows. Chinese space officials attributed these damage to an impact from orbital debris, a stark reminder that despite our technological advancements, space remains a wild frontier.
After careful consideration, the decision was made that Shenzhou 20 was no longer safe for re-entry through Earth's thick atmosphere – a fiery descent that requires a spacecraft to withstand intense heat and pressure. So, on November 14, the three crew members safely returned home aboard the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft, which had just arrived at Tiangong on Halloween night. To ensure the stranded Shenzhou 21 team has a reliable way back, China launched the unmanned Shenzhou 22 spacecraft on November 24, setting the stage for their eventual return.
And this is the part most people miss: Chinese officials plan to retrieve the damaged Shenzhou 20 vehicle without a crew in the future, likely gaining even more insights from the recent spacewalk. This extraorbital activity, or EVA as it's commonly called, marked the first for the Shenzhou 21 mission and involved some impressive team efforts.
The spacewalking trio included Commander Zhang Lu, a 48-year-old veteran who also participated in the Shenzhou 15 mission back in 2022; rookie astronaut Wu Fei, at just 32, and another rookie, Zhang Hongzhang, aged 39. Here's a fun fact to highlight: Wu Fei is the youngest member of China's astronaut corps, and during this EVA, he became the youngest Chinese national ever to perform a spacewalk. Zhang Lu joined him outside the three-module Tiangong station, while Zhang Hongzhang provided support from inside, coordinating the operation.
Tuesday's spacewalk wasn't groundbreaking in terms of being the first to address space debris risks; previous EVAs had already enhanced Tiangong's protective shielding against such threats. But given the Shenzhou 20 incident, this proactive approach seems more crucial than ever. It's a controversial take, though – some argue that bolstering defenses is just a band-aid solution, and we should focus on international clean-up initiatives to remove debris entirely. What do you think: are we doing enough to protect our astronauts, or is space debris an unavoidable hazard of exploration?
Stay tuned for the latest in space news, from thrilling rocket launches to mesmerizing skywatching events and beyond!
Michael Wall serves as a Senior Space Writer at Space.com, where he's been part of the team since 2010. He specializes in topics like exoplanets, spaceflight, and military space, though he occasionally explores the creative side of space art. His book, 'Out There,' which delves into the quest for extraterrestrial life, hit shelves on November 13, 2018. Before diving into science writing, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist, holding a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney in Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. For updates on his current projects, follow him on Twitter.
