The crew of China's Shenzhou-20 mission shared details of how they detected and responded to a suspected window crack struck by space debris on their return capsule, which has inspired many with the courages and composure of the astronauts in coping with space emergency.
China launched the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft on April 24 2025, carrying the crew of three astronauts -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie -- to China's space station in orbit.
Following the damage caused by a suspected space debris impact on the spacecraft, the crew’s return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed, with the astronauts later using an alternative spacecraft to get back to the Earth safely.
After spending a total of 204 days in orbit, the trio set a new record for the longest in-orbit stay among Chinese astronaut crews.
In an interview with China Media Group, the astronauts elaborated on how they discovered the crack on the viewport one day before their planned return.
Chen Dong, commander of the crew, said he noticed the damage while conducting final checks on the return capsule.
"I was the one who went for the checks. I was through the capsule with the naked eye, when I spotted something like a triangular on the viewport. My first thought was whether a small leaf had somehow stuck to the outside of the window. But then I quickly realized that couldn't happen because we were in space. How could there possibly be a fallen leaf there?" said Chen Dong.
After Chen pointed it out, the other two crew members, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, also observed the anomaly.
Wang, who served as the flight engineer on the Shenzhou-20 mission, had previously worked as an aerospace technician involved in the construction of China's space station before becoming an astronaut.
He said that although the trio was not immediately certain what they caught, he did not feel nervous.
"I wasn't really nervous, actually. The outermost layer of the viewport is a protective layer, and inside it there are two pressure-bearing layers, and we are safe as long as the cabin pressure doesn't change. I also know well about our ground team that no matter what happens, they will go through analysis and experiments to determine whether we can return safely and whether the crack affects our safety before making a final conclusion. So I wasn't too worried," Wang said.
To determine exactly what was on the viewport, the crew used every piece of equipment available inside the space station to photograph and document the abnormal area, including a work pad, a work phone and a magnifying glass, before finally confirming the crack using a 40-times microscope.
"It was a pen-shaped microscope. One end is the lens, connecting to a tablet -- the device we use to inspect the extravehicular suits, especially to check whether there is any damage in the sealed areas," said Chen Dong.
Despite sustaining damage, the debris-hit capsule withstood temperatures of thousands of degrees Celsius during the re-entry process and successfully touched down on the Earth on Jan 19.
Initial on-site inspections by the ground crew at the landing site confirmed that the return capsule's overall appearance was normal and that the items returned inside were in good condition.
The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft spent a total of 270 days in orbit, validating its long-term docking capability, with engineers saying the follow-up work will also provide an important basis for China's space program to continually refine operating procedures.
Shenzhou-20 crew detail discovery of cracks on return capsule viewport
Springtime flower-viewing tours are emerging as a major attraction across China ahead of this year's Qingming Festival, with cities and rural destinations rolling out cultural performances, interactive travel services and countryside experiences to lure visitors and boost the tourism economy.
Falling on April 5 this year, the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tributes to ancestors. The three-day holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing in pleasant springtime temperatures.
In north China's Tianjin Municipality, both locals and tourists from other parts of the country have gathered for a begonia flower festival, running from Saturday to April 12, which features 123 performances throughout the event.
At the city's well-known Wudadao historical urban area, or the Five Great Avenues, begonia blossoms are now in full bloom, while newly launched sightseeing carriages have added a fresh highlight, bringing in a larger influx of visitors ahead of the holiday.
To enhance the festive atmosphere, nearly 200 local businesses have decorated their storefronts in a festival theme.
Tianjin has also introduced new efforts to integrate culture, tourism and commerce. A locally developed mini-program as well as multiple interactive games combine festival schedules, guided maps, recommended routes and discount coupons, allowing tourists to access services and unlock surprises during their visits.
During last year's three-day Qingming holiday, the festival helped major scenic spots and commercial areas in the city's Heping District receive more than 3 million visits, generating over 800 million yuan (about 116 million U.S. dollars) in combined tourism-related revenue.
This year, local authorities expect both visitor numbers and overall revenue to rise even further.
Similar momentum is also being seen in central China's Hunan Province. In Xiangfeng Village in Changsha City, rapeseed flowers are now in full bloom, drawing crowds of holiday travelers and turning the village into a popular flower-viewing destination on the outskirts of the provincial capital ahead of Qingming.
The village has developed more than 10 featured courtyard-style businesses, including teahouses, eco-farms, yoga courses and rural art centers.
These venues cover a wide range of services such as dining, team-building, wellness, art education and camping, helping build a diversified rural industry that combines agricultural tourism, wellness tourism and commercial tourism.
In the first quarter of this year alone, the village received about 120,000 tourist visits, generating 4.8 million yuan (around 698,000 U.S. dollars) in tourism income.
The growing courtyard economy has helped turn natural scenery into real economic gain, creating jobs for villagers and providing them with a steady increase in income.
In east China's Anhui Province, spring blossoms are also bringing a boost to rural tourism.
On the shores of Jianshan Lake in Chaohu, Hefei City, blooming peach flowers and rapeseed flowers have attracted large numbers of tourists in recent days.
Jianshan Lake, a reservoir covering over 50 hectares, has also become a hub for both professional and recreational water activities.
While trained athletes practice motorboat events on the lake, ordinary visitors can also enjoy boat rides and go-kart-style watercraft experiences.
The area has further enriched its tourism offerings with camping zones, a pet-themed park and fruit-picking gardens, providing a wider range of activities for holiday travelers.
The integrated development of agriculture, culture and tourism has also created new employment opportunities for local residents, enabling more villagers to find jobs closer to home and improve their incomes as the spring tourism season gains pace.
Tourism, culture, commerce blend across China during Qingming Festival holiday
