On November 25, 2025, the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft was successfully launched. It is not manned; however, it carried no less than 600 kilograms of cargo, thus temporarily becoming “a cargo vessel” similar to its counterparts in the Tianzhou series. Another distinctive feature of this mission is that Shenzhou-22 was launched about six months ahead of its original schedule.
To understand this choice, one must look back at the Shenzhou-20 mission. Following the discovery of tiny cracks on the window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, caused by an impact with space debris, China decided to bring its crew back aboard the return capsule of the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft — a measure taken to avoid any risk to the astronauts. This return was successfully completed on November 14.
Consequently, the mission of the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft is essentially to serve as a return vehicle to Earth for the crew of Shenzhou-21, which arrived at the Tiangong space station on November 1 and will remain there for at least five more months.
Thus, China is writing a new chapter in its space history. From the discovery of the cracks on November 4 to the arrival of Shenzhou-22 on November 25, passing through the return of the Shenzhou-20 crew on November 14, the country implemented in just three weeks a series of unprecedented, effective, and rapid measures. Throughout this process, astronaut safety was always placed at the forefront.
This “China speed” is not the result of chance, but of a reliable and meticulous system. Since the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft, China has adopted an approach that can be described as “luxury”: each spacecraft launch is accompanied by another vessel ready for use. This means that each mission has immediate backup, capable of intervening in case of irregularities or emergencies.
Within this system, two response modes are planned if needed: the first, an emergency mode allowing a spacecraft to be launched in 8.5 days; the second, a more comprehensive mode achievable in 16 days — the latter was activated this time.
However, this is the first time the system has been tested under real conditions, and it worked perfectly, immediately fulfilling its role. This success reassured, even enthused, the Chinese public. Indeed, China is the first and only country in the world to insist on such a system, which requires extremely demanding technical and organizational conditions.
What makes this system possible are above all the advantages of China’s new centralized national system. It allows the efficient mobilization of all national resources for strategic projects and ensures ultra-rapid responses to challenges and risks. Unlike the International Space Station (ISS), managed by 15 countries where a joint decision can take several weeks, China reduces its reaction time to just a few hours.
For China’s space development, this recent experience is more than an opportunity: it is a challenge successfully met. The country is now entering a new phase, marked by the resilience of its system, combining increased stability and flexibility. This flawless management of an emergency situation has not only enriched China’s experience but also strengthened its confidence in continuing its space explorations.