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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

A debris strike to one of Shenzhou-20’s windows in the days before its original return date caused Shenzhou-20’s return to be delayed.

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

The Shenzhou-20 ship landed vertically on January 19, 2026.

General
Page4of16
Value 3.5
Jan 19, 2026
Shenzhou-20 ship landed vertically. via CCTV

Shenzhou-20 has a crack on one of its windows.

CapabilityValue 3.0Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou-20(with a crack on a window) Landed at Dongfeng landing zone.

State media CCTV broadcasted footage of cargo removal from the landed descent module of Shenzhou 20.

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026State media CCTV's latest news report just included some footage of cargo removal from the landed descent module of Shenzhou 20:

Shenzhou 20 has returned with cargo from the Chinese Space Station (CSS).

GeneralRelationshipsValue 4.0Jan 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 undocked from the Tiangong Space Station at 00:23 China Standard Time on January 18, 2026 (16:23 UTC, January 18).

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

Shenzhou-20 landed safely at 0134 UTC today with a patched up debris-damaged window.

GeneralValue 3.8Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou-20 landed safely at 0134 UTC today, with a patched up debris-damaged window. Shenzhou-23, which will provide emergency backup to the crew currently aboard Tiangong , has arrived at Jiuquan, with its CZ-2F launcher following soon.

Shenzhou-20 returned to Earth on January 19, 2026 uncrewed and carrying cargo onboard.

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

Shenzhou 20's descent capsule has landed nominally near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou 20's descent capsule has landed nominally near JSLC:

Shenzhou-21’s crew returned to Earth in November 2025 aboard Shenzhou-21, taking the crew home after the window damage incident on Shenzhou-20.

GeneralValue 4.2Jan 19, 2026Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage

Shenzhou-20 has landed.

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou-20 has landed. Waiting for more information

An airspace closure notice suggested that the damaged Shenzhou-20 crew spacecraft would attempt reentry and landing between 0120-0150 UTC on January 19, 2026.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jan 19, 2026Shenzhou-20 landed safely at 0134 UTC today, with a patched up debris-damaged window. Shenzhou-23, which will provide emergency backup to the crew currently aboard Tiangong , has arrived at Jiuquan, with its CZ-2F launcher following soon.

The uncrewed return capsule of Shenzhou-20 is being tested for survivability.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.5Jan 18, 2026Shenzhou-20 spacecraft is returning shortly. Let's see if the uncrewed return capsule can survive.

The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft is returning shortly.

GeneralPlanValue 2.5Jan 18, 2026Shenzhou-20 spacecraft is returning shortly. Let's see if the uncrewed return capsule can survive.

Shenzhou-20 astronauts CHEN Dong, CHEN Zhongrui, and WANG Jie safely landed in the Shenzhou-21 return capsule.

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 18, 2026Shenzhou-20 spacecraft is returning shortly. Let's see if the uncrewed return capsule can survive.

An airspace closure notice suggests that the damaged Shenzhou-20 crew spacecraft will attempt reentry and landing between 0120-0150 UTC on January 19, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 16, 2026The Shenzhou-20 crew appeared at a presser today, 63 days after landing in SZ-21. Astronauts discovered a triangular crack in SZ-20's return module window during a final pre-return check. Chen Dong sent images to Earth, triggering China's 1st human spaceflight emergency response.

The original Shenzhou-20 spacecraft is expected to return to Earth early on Monday.

PlanValue 3.0Jan 16, 2026Their original Shenzhou-20 spacecraft is expected to return to Earth early on Monday. CMSA link to the press conference:

Astronauts discovered a triangular crack in Shenzhou-20's return module window during a final pre-return check.

CapabilityPlanValue 3.5Jan 16, 2026The Shenzhou-20 crew appeared at a presser today, 63 days after landing in SZ-21. Astronauts discovered a triangular crack in SZ-20's return module window during a final pre-return check. Chen Dong sent images to Earth, triggering China's 1st human spaceflight emergency response.

The reentry and landing of Shenzhou-20 will be uncrewed.

PlanValue 3.0Jan 16, 2026The Shenzhou-20 crew appeared at a presser today, 63 days after landing in SZ-21. Astronauts discovered a triangular crack in SZ-20's return module window during a final pre-return check. Chen Dong sent images to Earth, triggering China's 1st human spaceflight emergency response.

An airspace closure notice indicates that the Shenzhou-20 will attempt reentry and landing between 0120 and 0150 UTC on January 19, 2026.

PlanValue 4.2Jan 15, 2026BTW there's also 1 thing that you all have been waiting for that's coming back - the stricken Shenzhou 20 is finally going to return in 4 days' time after its original crew finishes patching up the descent module port hole w/ extra shields from the inside: