Shenzhou-20

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  63632 / 25082A Launch date - time  24 April 2025 - 09:17:31 UTC Launch site  Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS Launch vehicle  CZ-2F (#xx) Shenzhou designation   nr Mass (kg)  8082 kg? Docking date - time  24 April 2025 - 15:49 UTC Target spacecraft/port  CSS/Tianhe nadir Earth orbit on :    - Perigee / Apogee Geocentric orbit, 379 - 3489 km    - Inclination  41,47°    - Period   min Undocking date - time  November 2025 (planned)- UTC Time docked  181d, 17h?? Deorbit burn date - time   Landing date - time  14 Nov 2025 - UTC Landing location  Inner Mongolia, China Flight Duration (d:hr:min)   Nbr orbits   Landing crew  Crew back in Shenzhou-21

Launched Crew

• Note: The identities of the crew members for this mission were revealed on 23 April 2025 local time
  
• Shenzhou 20 was a Chinese spaceflight mission to the Tiangong space station launched on 24 April 2025. It carried three taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft.
• Shenzhou 20 was expected to return to Earth in early November 2025 after the arrival of the Shenzhou 21 crew. However, due to suspected space debris damage, the return of the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft has been delayed indefinitely, and the Shenzhou 20 crew returned to Earth on November 14 using the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft instead.

Mission Report:

• The mission was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on board a Long March 2F rocket. The Shenzhou spacecraft docked with the nadir docking port on the Tianhe core module of the station, where the crew entered to take over operations from the departing crew of Shenzhou-19.
• The Tianzhou 9 cargo ship docked with the Tiangong station in October during a planned resupply mission.
• On October 31, 2025, Shenzhou 21 arrived at the space station in preparation for the return of Shenzhou 20. Members of both crews were pictured eating "barbecued" chicken wings aboard the station in a video shared by Chinese state media.
• Space debris incident: In early November, CMSA reported that due to a suspected strike by "a tiny space debris" to the orbital module, the return of Shenzhou 20 and its crew, planned for November 5th, has been postponed to ensure their safety.
• On November 11, CMSA confirmed that unspecified "emergency plans and measures" had been activated to bring the crew home. On November 14, the crew of Shenzhou 20 return safely to Earth aboard the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft.
• On November 22, Shenzhou 22 was launched uncrewed and six months ahead of schedule, successfully docking with Tiangong later in the same day. This means both docking stations are in use on the space station and Shenzhou 20 needs to be removed before a replacement crew can dock in 2026.

Shenzhou-20 launch.

External links:

• Wikipedia: Descriptions
• Spacefacts: Satellite description

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel with MPO and "27" in cancel. Credit: #411

Launch cancel without MPO and "27" in cancel. Credit: #404

Launch cancel, Xian Tracking station. Credit: #411

Undock cancel. Credit: #411

Landing cancel.

Different landing cancel. Credit: #411