8legs: Tiangong space station

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Damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft to return to Earth uncrewed for inspection

China will return the damaged Shenzhou-20 capsule uncrewed to Earth for inspection, CCTV says.
The crew had to switch vessels after a window crack threatened the mission, delaying the original return.
A separate emergency launch sent a new flightworthy vessel to bring the crew home later.
The damaged Shenzhou-20 capsule remains docked at Tiangong as investigations continue.
State media described the crack as potentially dangerous but limited in size, guiding the decision to retrieve for study.
China aims to obtain authentic experimental data from the uncrewed return, according to CCTV.
Jia Shijin, a Shenzhou designer, discussed the crack's implications for flight safety and scheduling.
The initial delay prompted China to launch an emergency mission 20 days after the setback.
Tiangong station operations proceeded as the damaged capsule awaited assessment.
CCTV provided televised updates on the capsule's status and the ongoing investigation.

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