Tiny chunks of space debris are believed to have struck the return vehicle of a Chinese crew of astronauts who were due to return to Earth following a mission at the nation's Tiangong space station.

The delay may remind some of the unexpected lengthy stay two NASA astronauts recently experienced when they reached the International Space Station in June 2024 aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule.

The situation highlights the growing threat that increasing amounts of space debris, also called space junk, poses to spacefarers and key orbital infrastructure.

Three Chinese astronauts have been temporarily stranded in after the vehicle they were meant to travel aboard back to Earth was hit by space debris.

Just how much damage the vehicle sustained and when – not to mention, how – the astronau

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