BEIJING — The three astronauts from China’s Shenzhou-20 mission made their first public appearance in Beijing on Friday, recounting their experiences in orbit and the unexpected discovery of cracks on their original return vessel. The crew — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie — returned safely to Earth in November after more than six months aboard the space station.
Launched in April 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew was scheduled to return on Nov. 5. During pre-return checks, they identified triangular cracks on the outermost layer of a viewport window. The astronauts documented the issue and worked with the Shenzhou-21 crew and ground teams to assess the situation. Ultimately, the Shenzhou-20 crew landed on Nov. 14 using the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, underscoring the resilience of China’s space program.
Chen Dong explained that the cracks did not compromise safety during their stay, while Chen Zhongrui highlighted the importance of emergency training and national support. Wang Jie described the incident as a testament to teamwork between crews and ground personnel. Within 20 days of the discovery, the astronauts had returned safely and the Shenzhou-22 mission was launched, reflecting the efficiency of China’s space operations.
The astronauts also shared highlights from their mission. Chen Dong, a veteran of three spaceflights, has now accumulated more than 400 days in orbit — the first Chinese astronaut to reach that milestone. He carried out seven spacewalks, including installing debris protection panels, and emphasized the growing need to safeguard the station against space debris. Chen Zhongrui recalled his first spacewalk from the node cabin, calling it a new experience for both crew and ground teams. Wang Jie, who transitioned from a ground engineer to flight engineer, encouraged young people to pursue careers in space exploration.
