“神舟二十二号航天员乘组”将永远空缺

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the emergency response to the discovery of a crack in the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft's window, leading to the postponement of its return mission and the initiation of an emergency launch for Shenzhou 21 and Shenzhou 22 [2][3][4]. Group 1: Incident Overview - On November 5, 2025, the Shenzhou 20 return mission was urgently postponed after astronauts discovered a crack on the spacecraft's window during a routine inspection [3]. - The crack was confirmed to be a through-crack, penetrating from the inner surface to the outer surface of the window [3][4]. - Within 12 hours of confirming the crack, the mission command made the decision to delay the return of Shenzhou 20 [4]. Group 2: Emergency Response - The emergency plan was activated on November 10, 2025, allowing the Shenzhou 20 astronauts to return on the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft [6]. - The Shenzhou 22 mission was launched 16 days later as part of the emergency response, marking China's first emergency launch in manned spaceflight [6][7]. Group 3: Future Implications - The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft will return to Earth in an uncrewed state, providing valuable data for future missions [9]. - The development schedule for subsequent spacecraft has been accelerated, with Shenzhou 23 expected to be completed two months ahead of schedule [11]. - The absence of the Shenzhou 22 astronaut crew in the sequence serves as a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of excellence in space missions [11][12].