China Launches Shenzhou 22 to Rescue Stranded Astronauts

China launched the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft on November 25, 2025, to assist in the return of three astronauts who were temporarily stranded on the Tiangong space station. This mission comes after a previous incident involving the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft, which faced a nine-day delay due to a damaged window, ultimately requiring the crew to return using the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft.

As reported by CBS News, the astronauts who had been stationed at Tiangong since November 1, 2025, are expected to utilize the Shenzhou 22 for their return in 2026. The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft, which suffered the damage and remains in space, will be brought back to Earth later for assessment by state broadcaster CCTV.

The Chinese space program determined that the Shenzhou 20 did not meet safety standards for transporting astronauts. This series of events highlights the challenges faced by China's growing space program, which has been rapidly developing following its exclusion from collaboration with the International Space Station due to U.S. national security concerns, as noted by The Seattle Times.

The Tiangong space station, operational since it hosted its first crew in 2021, is smaller than the International Space Station, which has been in operation for 25 years. The advancements showcased by the successful launch of the Shenzhou 22 underline China's commitment to space exploration and the safety of its astronauts, as it continues to build its capabilities in space technology.