3 Astronauts Delay Return to Earth Over Fears of Damaged Spaceship

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A group of Chinese astronauts will have to wait a little longer for their return home from space.

CNN reports that the return to Earth of Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie from the Tiangong space station has been postponed. The delay is due to potential damage to their Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, believed to be caused by space debris.

According to a report, the National Space Administration announced on November 5th that they are currently studying the potential impact and risks of something.

In April, three astronauts launched from Inner Mongolia, China, for a six-month mission in space. Their replacements arrived at the Tiangong space station on October 31st, and the changeover was broadcast on Chinese state television.

As they prepared to come back to Earth, Chen Dong passed the hatch key to his fellow astronaut, explaining it represented the responsibility for continuing operations on the Chinese space station, according to CNN.

This delay follows the return of NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore to Earth seven months ago, after a long mission on the International Space Station.

Originally, the astronauts planned to come back home in June 2024 after a short, eight-day mission. However, problems with their Boeing spacecraft, including a helium leak that started soon after liftoff, forced them to stay in space for almost 300 days.

Honestly, when things shifted, my immediate reaction was that we needed to change direction quickly. I remember thinking, ‘Let’s just take this new situation and really run with it, make something great happen!’ That’s what Williams said in an interview, and it really resonated with me.

It was also a sentiment shared by Wilmore.

He remembered wondering what his country needed from him after the mission failed. He admitted he’d considered the impact of being away from his daughter during her senior year of high school, but he and his family had prepared his daughters to be strong and adaptable.

In hindsight, Wilmore said that the experience taught him nothing is a “given” in the universe.

Look, things are unpredictable right now, and honestly, we can’t guarantee we’ll be back on schedule. My advice? Don’t get hung up on a specific timeline. Let’s just concentrate on the task at hand and seeing the mission through. That’s what really matters.

For a complete timeline of Wilmore and Williams’ extended stay in space, keep reading.

On June 5, 2024, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore blasted off to space aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. They are scheduled to spend eight days at the International Space Station. Soon after liftoff, the astronauts noticed a small, contained leak in the spacecraft’s plumbing system, according to the Associated Press.

Although the initial leak didn’t worsen during their journey to the International Space Station, four new leaks developed, and five of the spacecraft’s engines stopped working. They successfully connected to the ISS, but knew their mission would probably take longer than the planned eight days.

Two months after a flawed initial launch, NASA revealed that two astronauts were stranded in space. The agency was still evaluating whether the Starliner spacecraft was safe to fly again, while Boeing insisted it should be. In a statement to TopMob News, Boeing said they would adapt the Starliner for an unmanned return if NASA decided to alter the mission.

Former NASA official Scott Hubbard reassured the public about astronauts Wilmore and Williams, explaining to the Associated Press that they weren’t in serious danger – they were just “kind of stuck.” He pointed out that both astronauts had flown in space before and had ample supplies and tasks to keep them busy.

Once NASA announced that astronauts Williams and Wilmore would come back to Earth on a SpaceX spacecraft in either February or March—instead of trying to repair the Starliner—their families shared their reactions.

In August, Deanna Wilmore, wife of Wilmore, shared with WVLT how her family was coping with a difficult situation, saying, “You just have to take things as they come and be prepared for anything.”

Naomi Williams’ husband, Michael, believes she’d enjoy a longer stay in space, telling The Wall Street Journal that space is “her happy place.”

Oh my gosh, you guys, it’s almost been six months since Barry and Jasmin launched! And they finally told us about how they’re doing Thanksgiving on the ISS! I’m seriously living for every little detail they share, and knowing they’re celebrating up there just makes my heart swell! It’s amazing!

Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli told NBC Nightly News on November 27th that the crew on the International Space Station has Thanksgiving-themed food stored, including smoked turkey, cranberry sauce, apple cobbler, green beans with mushrooms, and mashed potatoes.

Williams also confirmed that she and Wilmore were doing well despite being in space for a long time.

Honestly, everyone keeps asking if we’re okay, but she just keeps saying not to worry about us at all! She says we’re actually feeling amazing – seriously, she’s been all about working out and eating super healthy. And she insists we’re having the best time, like, genuinely enjoying everything. It’s so good to hear, honestly! I was worried sick, but she just seems…happy. It makes me so happy to know she’s having fun, despite everything.

After celebrating half a year aboard the International Space Station, NASA announced the astronauts’ mission would be extended. Originally scheduled to return in February, the crew’s return was delayed due to issues with the SpaceX mission designed to bring them home, pushing their expected return to March or April.

In February, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that astronauts Williams and Wilmore had been “virtually abandoned” in space during their extended mission, which initially was scheduled for eight days but lasted eight months. The astronauts later publicly disagreed with the president’s statement.

In a February 13th interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN, Wilmore stressed that those affected do not feel forgotten or helpless. “We’re prepared and committed,” he said, adding they don’t feel trapped or left to fend for themselves.

Williams interjected during the interview that the pair were “doing pretty darn good, actually.”

We have everything we need up here – food, clothes, and a fantastic team. Our stay ended up being a bit longer than planned, but both of us were prepared to live and work on the International Space Station, and I think we really made the best of the situation.

I was so excited to hear that Wilmore and Williams will be coming home on SpaceX’s Dragon capsule on March 12th! It’s great to finally have a confirmed return date for them.

According to Wilmore, the next crew will arrive, connect with the station, and take over. They’ll spend roughly a week working together before Wilmore and his team return to Earth around March 19th.

Oh my gosh, I was so glued to the news! Just days before Captain Wilmore was supposed to come home, his daughter, Daryn, finally talked about how she was feeling. It was amazing to hear her open up about everything – how proud she was of her dad’s mission, but also how incredibly hard the repeated delays were on the whole family. Seriously, you could just feel her worry and relief all at once. It was so moving!

She told the Daily Mail on March 6th that dealing with the situation was draining. She explained that problems and carelessness have caused repeated delays, with one issue constantly following another.

Daryn said her father was a little disappointed, but generally doing fine on the International Space Station, and noted that he’s a very strong person.

Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth safely on March 18th after spending nine months in space. They landed off the coast of Florida, and, like all astronauts and cosmonauts returning from space, were carried from the capsule on stretchers because it’s difficult to walk immediately after being in zero gravity. Joining them on the return trip were NASA crew member Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

According to former NASA senior scientist John DeWitt, many astronauts don’t want to be carried out on stretchers after a flight, but they’re often required to be.

Astronaut Wilmore’s daughter, Daryn, shared what the first few days back on Earth will likely be like for the crew.

She explained in a TikTok video on March 18th that he’ll be undergoing medical tests for the next few days. This is because astronauts are still considered part of the ongoing research into the effects of space travel. He also needs time to readjust to gravity and everyday life back on Earth after being in space for the last nine months, which has been a very different experience.

When the astronauts returned to Earth after spending an extra eight months in space, NASA clarified whether they would receive overtime pay.

NASA confirmed to People magazine that astronauts on the International Space Station earn a standard 40-hour workweek salary. However, they don’t receive extra pay for overtime, weekends, or holidays.

An astronaut with a standard 40-hour work week can earn between $84,365 and $152,258 per year, based on the government’s GS-11 to GS-14 pay grades.

Daryn was overjoyed when her father, Butch, finally came home after being away for a long time.

In a TikTok video, a college student explained she was baking her boyfriend’s favorite dessert, pecan pie. She also shared that she’s created a list of his favorite things and activities they used to enjoy together, hoping to do them while he visits before she returns to school, or during his future visits.

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2025-11-06 05:18