The Shenzhou XX mission crew successfully returned to Earth on Friday afternoon, marking the end of an extended stay aboard the Tiangong space station. The landing, initially scheduled for November 5, was delayed by nine days due to a suspected space debris impact that caused a cracked window on their spacecraft. The re-entry capsule, carrying mission commander Senior Colonel Chen Dong and crew members Colonel Chen Zhongrui and Colonel Wang Jie, touched down at the Dongfeng Landing Site in Inner Mongolia at 4:40 pm. The astronauts had to use the Shenzhou XXI mission’s re-entry capsule after their own vessel was deemed unsafe. Ground recovery personnel from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center conducted initial safety checks and assessed the crew’s health. The Shenzhou XXI mission crew had already taken over the space station on November 4, ensuring a smooth transition. This incident highlights the challenges of space exploration and the importance of contingency planning.