China’s Shenzhou‑20 Crew Returns Safely After Space Debris Incident
Three Chinese astronauts from the Shenzhou‑20 mission have returned to Earth, but not in their original spacecraft. Their planned return was delayed due to suspected damage caused by small orbital debris.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), tiny cracks were discovered in a viewport of the Shenzhou-20 capsule, likely from an external impact.To ensure their safety, the crew instead used the return module of the recently arrived Shenzhou‑21 spacecraft.
The capsule carrying the crew landed at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, closing a tense chapter in the mission. CMSA announced that the original Shenzhou-20 vehicle will remain in orbit for further experiments, while the Shenzhou‑22 mission will be scheduled in due course.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rockets Mars-Bound ESCAPADE Mission and Lands Booster
Blue Origin has successfully launched its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket for the second time, carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft toward Mars.
The mission was originally delayed due to strong solar activity, but the launch took place on Nov. 13 (UT), placing the spacecraft into a “loiter” orbit. ESCAPADE — Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers — will study how the solar wind strips Mars’ atmosphere, shedding light on the Red Planet’s climate evolution.
In a major achievement for reusability, New Glenn’s first stage landed back on Blue Origin’s recovery ship “Jacklyn” in the Atlantic — a milestone for this size of rocket.
Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) Shatters After Close Solar Encounter
Astronomers have captured dramatic new images showing that Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) is breaking apart. This “other” ATLAS – not to be confused with the interstellar 3I/ATLAS – appears to have fragmented following its close approach to the Sun.
Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi observed multiple sub-nuclei and debris clouds trailing the main fragment, suggesting the comet’s structure couldn’t withstand the gravitational and thermal stress. Interestingly, earlier brightening around perihelion had turned the comet’s color from green to a golden hue, likely due to changes in its molecular composition.
Located in the constellation Leo with a magnitude around 9.9, the fragmented comet is now too faint for naked-eye viewing but remains within reach of telescopes and binoculars. It is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Nov. 25, at approximately 37 million miles away.
Why This Matters
- Safety in space is fragile: The Shenzhou‑20 return underscores how even tiny debris can jeopardize human missions, highlighting the growing risk in Earth’s increasingly crowded orbit.
- Reusable rockets are making strides: New Glenn’s booster recovery on only its second flight is a signal of Blue Origin’s maturing technology and potential for sustainable space missions.
- Comet science in real time: The breakup of Comet ATLAS provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study comet fragmentation, composition, and evolution – insights into both solar system history and comet dynamics.
