China delays return of astronauts after debris may have hit space station

In a twist of fate, China's latest space expedition will see a delay as three astronauts will not be returning to Earth as originally scheduled. Officials pinpoint a suspected strike from debris as the catalyst for this postponement. A meticulous ...

By NYT News Service | Nov 05, 2025, 09.06 AM IST

China's Long March 2F rocket, carrying three astronauts for the Shenzhou 21 manned space mission, lifts off for a space station, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

China has postponed a mission to return three astronauts from its space station after a suspected debris strike on the craft, the country's space authorities said Wednesday.

The China Manned Space Agency said in a statement that an analysis of the suspected strike and a risk assessment was underway, and that it had decided to delay the return mission for the health and safety of the astronauts.

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