• Three Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth after a nine-day delay due to space debris.
• The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft did not meet safety requirements and will remain in orbit.
• Mission commander Chen Dong now holds the record for over 400 days in space and multiple spacewalks.

Three astronauts aboard China's Tiangong space station have successfully returned to Earth after their return was delayed due to an impact with space debris. The return took place aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, which landed at the Dongfeng Landing Site in China's Inner Mongolia region. Originally intended to return on November 5, the journey was postponed for nine days following the debris incident, according to South China Morning Post and Reuters.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) stated that tiny cracks found in a window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft necessitate this delay, as the spacecraft could not guarantee a safe return of the astronauts. Instead, the Shenzhou-20 is set to remain in orbit for further experiments. The astronauts had been in space for over 200 days prior to their return, marking a significant milestone for China’s space program, as they transitioned to the Shenzhou-21 mission, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency.

The crew, which includes mission commander Chen Dong, noted for now holding the title of the first Chinese astronaut to surpass 400 days in space, completed their return process around three hours after undocking from the Tiangong space station. Following their landing, the astronauts are expected to undergo medical checks as part of the standard procedure post-return, according to South China Morning Post and Anadolu Agency.