China's Shenzhou-20 return capsule touches down on Earth

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

JIUQUAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

On-site inspections confirmed that the return capsule's overall appearance was normal and that items inside were in good condition. The Shenzhou-20 spaceship return mission was a complete success, the CMSA said.

"With the return of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, all main tasks of the space emergency response for China's space station have been successfully completed," it announced.

The Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on April 24, 2025, and it later successfully docked with the space station. Its return was postponed in early November due to a suspected space debris impact incident, and it remained in orbit to conduct related experiments.

At 12:23 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, the spacecraft undocked from the space station combination and began its unmanned return journey. With a total orbital duration of 270 days, the mission verified the spacecraft's capability to remain docked in orbit for nine months, the CMSA noted.

China on Oct. 31, 2025, launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship, sending three astronauts to its orbiting space station on a six-month mission.

To mitigate risks during the return of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, the Shenzhou-21 astronaut crew took the opportunity of extravehicular activities on Dec. 9, 2025, to capture close-up images of the return capsule's window using a high-definition camera, further investigating the condition of window cracks stemming from a suspected collision with space debris.

Notably, in preparation for the emergency launch of the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft, a window crack treatment device was urgently developed and sent to the space station. The astronauts installed the device inside the Shenzhou-20 return capsule, effectively enhancing the capsule's thermal protection and sealing capabilities for the return journey.

The CMSA recalled that after the suspected impact damage was detected on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft's window, the mission command promptly organized simulation analysis and experimental verification, adjusting the mission plan and activating emergency procedures.

On Nov. 14, 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew safely returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

Eleven days later, the emergency launch of the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft was successfully carried out. This was the first such emergency launch in China's manned space program history, the CSMA said. This spaceship, which flew without crew, is expected to serve as a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts currently in orbit.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, which will be used for the rolling backup mission, has arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, while a Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket is about to be shipped to the launch site, the CMSA revealed.

The Shenzhou-20 astronauts, namely Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, are all in good health. They met the press in Beijing on Jan. 16, which was their first public appearance since returning to Earth.

The trio spent 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest in-orbit stay among Chinese astronaut crews, the CMSA said.■

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the Shenzhou-20 spaceship flying in orbit. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the Shenzhou-20 spaceship after separating from the space station. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the orbital capsule of the Shenzhou-20 separating from the return capsule. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the Shenzhou-20 spaceship igniting the braking engine. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)

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