spacetoday.net: China launches replacement Shenzhou spacecraft

Posted: Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 8:34 AM ET (1334 GMT)
China sent a replacement Shenzhou spacecraft to the Tiangong space station. A Long March 2F rocket lifted off at 11:11 pm EST Monday (0411 GMT Tuesday), putting the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft into orbit. The spacecraft docked with Tiangong at 2:50 am EST (0750 GMT) Tuesday. China launched the uncrewed spacecraft to replace Shenzhou-20, which suffered damage to a window from a micrometeoroid or orbital debris impact. The astronauts who flew to Tiangong on Shenzhou-20 returned earlier this month on Shenzhou-21, while the astronauts who arrived on Shenzhou-21 will now use Shenzhou-22 for their return trip next spring.