"Shenzhou-22 was launched at 4.11 am UTC on Tuesday, November 25, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on a fast-track rendezvous with the orbiting complex. Docking occurred a few hours later. Although the vehicle was not carrying a crew, it was loaded with fresh supplies and a repair kit for a cracked window on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft."
"Shenzhou-22 will now serve as the return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts, whose own spacecraft was used to return the Shenzhou-20 crew to Earth. Shenzhou-22 was supposed to launch in 2026, but was on standby at the launch site in case it was required. Chinese media called it the "first emergency launch" in the country's crewed space program. The docking restores a safe lifeboat for the three astronauts aboard Tiangong."
"While emergency return via the damaged Shenzhou-20 was technically possible, controllers deemed the cracked window too risky. Failure could have caused capsule depressurization, which is manageable with pressure suits, or, at worst, loss of vehicle and crew. The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was initially scheduled to return on November 5. This was delayed when cracks in the capsule's window, potentially caused by space debris, were found."
An uncrewed Shenzhou-22 launched from Jiuquan and docked with Tiangong a few hours later, delivering supplies and a repair kit for Shenzhou-20's cracked window. The vehicle, previously on standby for emergencies, will serve as the return craft for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts after controllers judged the Shenzhou-20 window too risky for crewed reentry. The cracked window delayed Shenzhou-20's planned November 5 return and forced crew swap decisions. The incident highlights risks from potential debris impacts, may affect a planned 2026 long-duration mission, and underscores calls for greater international standardization in human spaceflight contingency planning.
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