China Launches Shenzhou 22 to Facilitate Astronauts' Return from Tiangong Station
China has launched the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft to provide a return vehicle for three astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station, following damage to their original return craft.
On November 25, 2025, China successfully launched the unmanned Shenzhou 22 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The mission aims to provide a safe return vehicle for three astronauts currently aboard the Tiangong space station, following damage to their original return craft.
The Shenzhou 22, which docked with Tiangong on the same day, will remain attached to the station until approximately April 2026. It is scheduled to transport the current crew back to Earth at the conclusion of their mission.
This launch was expedited after the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft sustained a cracked window, likely due to space debris, rendering it unsafe for reentry. Consequently, the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft was redeployed to return the Shenzhou 20 crew, leaving the current crew without an emergency return option.
The Shenzhou 22 mission underscores China's commitment to maintaining the safety and operational integrity of its space program. The Tiangong station, operational since 2021, was developed independently after China was excluded from the International Space Station due to U.S. national security concerns.