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Shenzhou 20

retired

神舟二十号

Human SpaceflightLEOCOSPAR 2025-082ALaunched 4/24/2025
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Shenzhou 20 Mission
Launch Vehicle
Long March 2F G
Launch Date
4/24/2025
Last Contact
1/19/2026
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
381.5 km
Inclination
41.46 deg
Dry Mass
3,258 kg
Total Mass
8,100 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Human Spaceflight
Payload Category
SS
Payload Class
C
Organizations
Operator
China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)
Manufacturer
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Registry
COSPAR ID
2025-082A
Track
Mentions
307
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

China launched the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft to carry items to repair Shenzhou-20 for a cargo-carrying return for the Shenzhou-21 taikonauts.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage
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Shenzhou-20 has landed.

GeneralPlanValue 2.0Jan 19, 2026Footage of Shenzhou-20 returning. The return capsule looks in good shape, according to official outlet.

Shenzhou-21 taikonauts installed a window crack repair device inside Shenzhou-20 to improve thermal protection and sealing capabilities during reentry.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage

The Shenzhou-20 return capsule appears in good shape according to an official outlet.

GeneralValue 1.8Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou-20 return capsule, with the cracked window covered

The Feitian spacesuit returned inside Shenzhou-20’s reentry module was partially disassembled and secured to the seats to fit inside the module.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.5Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage

The return capsule of Shenzhou-20 looks to be in good shape, according to official sources.

CapabilityValue 1.5Jan 19, 2026Footage of Shenzhou-20 returning. The return capsule looks in good shape, according to official outlet.

Recovery teams covered the damaged window on Shenzhou-20 after touchdown to prevent objects at the landing site from entering the window cracks ahead of a full analysis.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage

Shenzhou 20 landed at 01:34 UTC on January 19.

GeneralPlanValue 3.6Jan 19, 2026Undocking from the CSS was at 16:23 UTC January 18; landing was at 01:34 UTC January 19 - Shenzhou 20 ultimately spent 270 days in orbit, a new Chinese record. Shenzhou 23 is now already in JSLC, w/ Long March 2F s/n Y23 about to leave for there soon too.

Shenzhou-20 separated its orbital module, performed a deorbit burn, and separated its service module as planned during return operations.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage

Shenzhou 20 undocked from the CSS at 16:23 UTC on January 18.

GeneralValue 4.2Jan 19, 2026Undocking from the CSS was at 16:23 UTC January 18; landing was at 01:34 UTC January 19 - Shenzhou 20 ultimately spent 270 days in orbit, a new Chinese record. Shenzhou 23 is now already in JSLC, w/ Long March 2F s/n Y23 about to leave for there soon too.

On December 9, 2025, Shenzhou-21 crew conducted close-range photography of Shenzhou-20 reentry capsule portholes using high-definition cameras to confirm the status of cracks.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.7Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage

Shenzhou-20’s uncrewed reentry module touched down at 09:34 China Standard Time on January 19, 2026 (01:34 UTC).

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage

Shenzhou 20 made an early return instead of its scheduled mission.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou 20 has returned with some cargo of opportunity from the CSS, including CSS EVA spacesuit "b" (w/ blue strips marking) being retired after reaching its 20 times usage limit. It was supposed to return on a "new type of S/C" (probably Mengzhou-1) but now got an early seat.

Shenzhou 20 spacecraft is returning shortly.

GeneralValue 2.0Jan 19, 2026It's a somewhat busy Chinese spaceflight day today, not the least of which Shenzhou 20's finally coming back in the next 1.5 hours (apparently no live coverage alas). I think it's almost certain extra shielding installed will be enough, but who knows?

Shenzhou-20 landed at the Dongfeng landing zone on January 19, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou-20(with a crack on a window) Landed at Dongfeng landing zone.

Shenzhou 20 was supposed to return on a new type of spacecraft, likely Mengzhou-1.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou 20 has returned with some cargo of opportunity from the CSS, including CSS EVA spacesuit "b" (w/ blue strips marking) being retired after reaching its 20 times usage limit. It was supposed to return on a "new type of S/C" (probably Mengzhou-1) but now got an early seat.

Shenzhou 20's service module has burned up after spending an additional 2 months in space.

GeneralPlanValue 3.5Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou 20's service module finally burning up after spending an extra 2 months in space. From Korla, Xinjiang:

On-site inspections confirmed that the cargo inside the Shenzhou-20 return capsule is in good condition.

GeneralValue 3.0Jan 19, 2026On-site inspections confirmed that the overall exterior of Shenzhou-20 return capsule and cargo inside all in good condition.

On-site inspections confirmed that the overall exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule is in good condition.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.5Jan 19, 2026On-site inspections confirmed that the overall exterior of Shenzhou-20 return capsule and cargo inside all in good condition.

Shenzhou-20 spent 270 days docked to the Tiangong Space Station’s Earth-facing docking port.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage