Beijing: China has postponed the return of its Shenzhou 20 astronauts after a suspected collision with space debris forced mission controllers to carry out a detailed safety check. The three-member crew, who were scheduled to land on Wednesday at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia, will now remain in orbit until engineers complete a risk assessment.

According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the delay was ordered after signs of a small impact were detected on the space station module. Although no crew members were harmed and all systems remain stable, officials said that further analysis was needed before giving clearance for re-entry.

This marks the first time a Chinese manned mission has been delayed due to space debris rather than weather or technical issues. The agency has not announced a new landing date, saying only that the decision will depend on the results of ongoing checks.

Experts say the incident highlights growing concerns about the increasing amount of space debris orbiting the Earth. Even tiny fragments of old satellites or rocket parts can travel at speeds exceeding 25,000 kilometers per hour, posing serious risks to spacecraft.

China’s Tiangong space station has previously carried out several debris-avoidance maneuvers, but this is the first known case where a crew’s return has been affected. The delay could also impact the scheduling of future missions, including the arrival of the next Shenzhou crew and upcoming supply flights.

International observers have called for stronger global cooperation to monitor and manage orbital debris, warning that more accidents could threaten future space exploration.

The CMSA said it is maintaining regular communication with the astronauts, who are safe and continuing routine activities while waiting for further instructions.