Shenzhou 21

10th crewed mission to Tiangong Space Station (TSS). Shenzhou 21 arrived with a new crew of three taikonauts, but shortly after docking, inspections revealed debris-impact damage to the window of the docked Shenzhou 20 spacecraft - multiple cracks in the outer pane of the re-entry capsule raised concerns about its structural integrity for return flight.

With Shenzhou 20 judged unfit for crewed return, the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft departed just two weeks into what had been a planned six-month mission, carrying the Shenzhou 20 crew home on 14 November 2025. The Shenzhou 21 crew remained aboard Tiangong without a return vehicle until the uncrewed Shenzhou 22 arrived on 25 November as a replacement lifeboat.