China readies a lifeboat for stranded Shenzhou crew
(2025/11/18)
- Reference: 1763489259
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/11/18/china_readies_a_lifeboat_for/
- Source link:
China is preparing for an early launch of the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft to rescue the crew of Shenzou-21, who were left stranded aboard the Tiangong space station after their emergency rescue of the Shenzou-20 crew earlier this month.
As first reported by [1]SpaceNews , an airspace closure has been announced, indicating that a launch from China is in the cards, most likely the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft and a Long March 2F rocket at approximately 0410 UTC on November 25.
While there has been no confirmation from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), an earlier-than-planned launch of Shenzhou-22 was widely expected, since the current crew of the Tiangong space station was left without a safe lifeboat in the event of a problem that would force them to abandon the outpost.
[2]
The [3]saga began when space debris struck the Shenzhou-20 craft, leaving small cracks in the viewport window, and authorities [4]deemed it unsafe . It is still attached to the station. Shenzou-21 arrived as scheduled and they did a crew swap, sending the Shenzou-20 crew home and leaving the Shenzou-21 crew aboard the space station.
[5]Shenzhou-20 crew rides Shenzhou-21 home after debris strike
[6]China sends an AI to its space station, where Taikonauts use it to prep for spacewalk
[7]US Space Force warns Chinese satellites are 'dogfighting' in space
[8]China uses Mars orbiter to snap interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
The situation illustrates the shoestring nature of resources aboard the Tiangong space station. The outpost is designed to host a crew of three, rising to six during handover periods. However, the problem with Shenzou-20 forced the station to host six astronauts longer than planned, straining its resources.
The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will be launched without a crew and loaded with supplies. There is no indication whether the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft will also be launched earlier. One of the original Shenzhou-22 crew members was [9]planned to stay on the Tiangong station for more than a year as part of a long-duration residency experiment.
[10]
Once the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft has successfully docked, the suspect Shenzhou-20 vehicle will likely make an autonomous return to Earth.
In 2026, China intends to launch the Mengzhou-1 vehicle to the Tiangong space station for the first time, delivering supplies. The Mengzhou spacecraft is intended as a replacement for the Shenzhou series, although it is unlikely to carry crew until 2027 at the earliest. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://spacenews.com/china-to-launch-shenzhou-22-spacecraft-nov-25-to-provide-lifeboat-for-astronauts/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aRz6hi2qsu9On8iYZVn08gAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/10/chinas_shenzhou_problem_shows_a/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/14/shenzhou20_astronauts_return/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/14/shenzhou20_astronauts_return/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/19/china_wukong_ai_space_station/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/20/us_space_force_warns_chinese/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/06/comet_3iatlas_mars_photos/
[9] https://english.news.cn/20251101/0376abd2518f4c9a9bc72483fe304af8/c.html
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aRz6hi2qsu9On8iYZVn08gAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
As first reported by [1]SpaceNews , an airspace closure has been announced, indicating that a launch from China is in the cards, most likely the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft and a Long March 2F rocket at approximately 0410 UTC on November 25.
While there has been no confirmation from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), an earlier-than-planned launch of Shenzhou-22 was widely expected, since the current crew of the Tiangong space station was left without a safe lifeboat in the event of a problem that would force them to abandon the outpost.
[2]
The [3]saga began when space debris struck the Shenzhou-20 craft, leaving small cracks in the viewport window, and authorities [4]deemed it unsafe . It is still attached to the station. Shenzou-21 arrived as scheduled and they did a crew swap, sending the Shenzou-20 crew home and leaving the Shenzou-21 crew aboard the space station.
[5]Shenzhou-20 crew rides Shenzhou-21 home after debris strike
[6]China sends an AI to its space station, where Taikonauts use it to prep for spacewalk
[7]US Space Force warns Chinese satellites are 'dogfighting' in space
[8]China uses Mars orbiter to snap interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
The situation illustrates the shoestring nature of resources aboard the Tiangong space station. The outpost is designed to host a crew of three, rising to six during handover periods. However, the problem with Shenzou-20 forced the station to host six astronauts longer than planned, straining its resources.
The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will be launched without a crew and loaded with supplies. There is no indication whether the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft will also be launched earlier. One of the original Shenzhou-22 crew members was [9]planned to stay on the Tiangong station for more than a year as part of a long-duration residency experiment.
[10]
Once the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft has successfully docked, the suspect Shenzhou-20 vehicle will likely make an autonomous return to Earth.
In 2026, China intends to launch the Mengzhou-1 vehicle to the Tiangong space station for the first time, delivering supplies. The Mengzhou spacecraft is intended as a replacement for the Shenzhou series, although it is unlikely to carry crew until 2027 at the earliest. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://spacenews.com/china-to-launch-shenzhou-22-spacecraft-nov-25-to-provide-lifeboat-for-astronauts/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aRz6hi2qsu9On8iYZVn08gAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/10/chinas_shenzhou_problem_shows_a/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/14/shenzhou20_astronauts_return/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/14/shenzhou20_astronauts_return/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/19/china_wukong_ai_space_station/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/20/us_space_force_warns_chinese/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/06/comet_3iatlas_mars_photos/
[9] https://english.news.cn/20251101/0376abd2518f4c9a9bc72483fe304af8/c.html
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aRz6hi2qsu9On8iYZVn08gAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Moving up production
Gene Cash
> begin production of spacecraft
Why don't they have reusable ones like Crew Dragon?
SpaceX just launched 2 Falcon 9s within 4 hours this weekend in Florida, so they certainly have the tempo up.
> It's poor PR to lose people
Well, the crew certainly thinks so!
Eh?
jake
Shirley Saint Elon can use one of his holy Sky Ferrys to magic them down.
Re: Eh?
Androgynous Cupboard
I've lost track, I thought he sent magical submarines?
Moving up production
China doesn't wait until the last minute to begin production of spacecraft so a report I watched claimed they have rocket close to ready for launch and others well along in production. It is an expensive fault as China plans many years in advance so there's a whole pipeline that must be sped up to get back inline with expectations.
I don't see it being a bad idea to have the next spacecraft ready to launch when there are manned missions being performed. At the end it means there will be a leftover, but that's just the cost of sending highly trained people out into the black. It's poor PR to lose people and often sets back manned programs for at least a couple of years with a massive price tag as well.