The Chinese astronauts' recent spacewalk has shed light on the potential dangers of space debris. The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft, which was damaged by space junk, had to be returned to Earth early, causing a delay in the astronauts' return. The crew, including commander Zhang Lu, rookie Wu Fei, and rookie Zhang Hongzhang, conducted an 8-hour spacewalk to inspect the damage. This was the first spacewalk for the Shenzhou 21 mission, which was sent to Tiangong to replace the damaged Shenzhou 20. The astronauts' inspection revealed cracks in the spacecraft's windows, which were likely caused by a space junk strike. This incident highlights the need for better debris shielding on spacecraft, as previous spacewalks have also been conducted to add debris shielding to Tiangong. The astronauts' safety was prioritized, and they returned home aboard the Shenzhou 21, which had just arrived at Tiangong. The Shenzhou 22 spacecraft was launched without a crew to provide a safe ride back to Earth for the Shenzhou 21 astronauts. This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks associated with space exploration, and the need for further research and development in this field.
