Damaged Shenzhou-20 capsule survives an uncrewed reentry after in-orbit repairs

China Manned Space Agency/Shenzhou

The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, whose window was cracked by a suspected debris impact, returned safely to Earth without a crew after internal repairs in orbit. Its return capsule was photographed at the Dongfeng landing site on January 19, 2026. The return gives China real data on how a damaged spacecraft behaves during reentry.

• The window damage was China's first human spaceflight emergency.
• Repairs were made from inside the spacecraft while it was docked at Tiangong.
• The capsule was photographed at the Dongfeng landing site on January 19, 2026.