Cracks in Shenzhou Window Expose Greater Space-Junk Risk
TL;DR
New details show cracks in the Shenzhou return capsule’s viewport penetrated the window, likely from space debris, with astronauts using a pen-shaped microscope to inspect them. A porthole crack repair device was deployed, a replacement crewless capsule was sent, and the damaged capsule landed in Mongolia on Jan 19. The incident underscores growing space-junk hazards as satellite megaconstellations expand.
Topics:sciencespace#reentry-repair-device#shenzhou-20#space#space-debris#tiangong-space-station#viewport-crack
- Damage to Chinese Spacecraft Was Worse Than Reported Futurism
- Chinese astronauts describe moment a crack was discovered on Shenzhou-20 spacecraft Live Science
- 'Some of the cracks had penetrated through': Chinese astronauts reveal new details about spacecraft that 'stranded' them in space last year Space
- Chinese Taikonauts Recount Harrowing Space Emergency Aboard Shenzhou-20 ekhbary.com
- Shenzhou-20 crew describe spacecraft cracks in China’s first spaceflight emergency Minute Mirror
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