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

Victor Tangermann

created: Nov. 26, 2025, 7:10 p.m. | updated: Dec. 6, 2025, 6:24 p.m.

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. As Reuters reports, the replacement spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China early Tuesday morning, docking hours later. It’s an impressive turnaround time that comes just eleven days after we first found out about the cracks in the window. NASA relies on its private industry partners and Russia’s Soyuz capsules to send astronauts to space and back. The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was initially put out of commission as it “does not meet the requirements for the astronauts’ safe return,” per a statement by the China Manned Space Agency.

2 months, 2 weeks ago: Futurism