Left to right: Shenzhou-20 astronauts Wang Jie, Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui (Picture: PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)

Three astronauts are stranded in space after their return capsule was struck by ‘orbital debris’, it has been reported.

Wang Jie, Chen Zhongrui and Chen Dong, who were part of the Shenzhou-20 space mission, flew to the Tiangong space station in April.

They were expected to return yesterday after a six-month mission, and the Shenzhou-21 crew, who were sent to replace them, had already arrived on the weekend.

The China Manned Space Agency said: ‘The Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft is suspected to have been struck by a small piece of orbital debris, and assessment of the impact and associated risks is currently underway.

‘To ensure the health and safety of the astronauts and the successful completion of the mission, it has been decided that the originally planned return of Shenzhou-20 on November 5 will be postponed.’

The two crews remain on board Tiangong. A risk assessment is currently underway.

The astronauts were due to return yesterday (Picture: Xinhua/Shutterstock)

Authorities have not said when the incident occurred – and it has not been revealed whether Shenzhou-20 was hit by debris mid-flight or when it docked onto the space station.

During the six-month missions, the astronauts perform different tasks, including repairing damage to the orbiting outpost.

There were no problems reported earlier this week. State media said two crews enjoyed a meal of baked chicken – cooked on the space station’s first oven, which was delivered by the Shenzhou-21 team.

Tiangong space station

Tiangong is a permanently crewed space station operated by the China Manned Space Agency.

It is China’s first long-term space station and has spent 1,652 days in orbit.

Tiangong has capacity for six crew – and is currently occupied by astronaunts from the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions.

Its construction is based on the experience gained from its precursors – Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2.

The Tianhe (which relates to ‘Harmony of the Heavens’) core module launched in April 2021.

Two subsequent laboratory cabin modules, Wentian (‘Quest for the Heavens’) and Mengtian (‘Dreaming of the Heavens’) were launched in July and October 2022 respectively.

On Tuesday, the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crews conducted a handover ceremony.

Yu Jun, a science communicator known online as Steed’s Scarf, said a backup plan may be activated if the spacecraft is deemed unsafe to return.

The Shenzhou-20 crew flew to the Tiangong space station in April (Picture: PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)

Yu said on the Chinese blogging platform Weibo: ‘Shenzhou-22 and the Long March 2F (launcher) were already on standby.

‘This is our rolling backup mechanism. They are in “emergency duty” mode and ready to bring our astronauts home safely if needed.’

China has continued to expand its space programme. It has so far completed 37 flights and six crewed missions – and has plans to land astronauts on the moon by the end of the decade.

Chen Dong, the commander of Shenzhou-20, holds the country’s record for the longest time in space with 380 days cumulatively.

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