Space debris struck a Chinese spacecraft – how the incident could be a wake-up call for international collaboration

By: R. Lincoln Hines, Georgia Institute of Technology, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 13, 2025

Words: 1,181

Last Updated: 1 week, 4 days ago

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By R. Lincoln Hines, Georgia Institute of Technology

China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft took a hit from a piece of space debris floating through orbit, causing Chinese officials to delay the spacecraft’s return from its Tiangong space station in early November 2025.

In addition to stranding the three Chinese astronauts – called taikonauts – who were set to return to Earth, this incident highlights the increasing risks posed to China and the broader international community by the …

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