China-Shenzhou-20 Crew/Experience
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Shenzhou-20 crew at press conference
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of space station interior
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Dong, Shenzhou-20 astronaut (starting with shot 2/partially overlaid with shots 4/ending with shots 5-7):
"We took photographs right away and recorded the situation, and immediately transmitted the data back to the ground. Based on my visual observation, I initially judged that the crack was on the outermost layer of the spacecraft window. The crack had penetrated that outer layer, but it did not affect the safety of our continued stay in orbit. Afterwards, the two crews, six astronauts in total, carefully observed and discussed the condition of the window together, and fully cooperated with the ground teams to carry out rechecks and confirmation."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: China - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Various of ground team members at meeting
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 astronauts working in space station
FILE: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Date unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
7. Ground teams at meeting
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 astronauts working in space station
FILE: China - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of ground team members at control center
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Zhongrui, Shenzhou-20 astronaut (partially overlaid with shot 11):
"When we learned of the situation, we had discussions and reached a common understanding. At the same time, the ground teams communicated with us promptly, and we soon calmed down. This was because we had undergone solid emergency response training on the ground, and we had been mentally and psychologically prepared."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: China - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
11. Various of ground team members at meeting
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. Press conference in progress
13. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Jie, Shenzhou-20 astronaut (starting with shot 12/partially overlaid with shot 14/ending with shots 15-16):
"At the moment we discovered the potential danger, I felt nervous for a short while, but quickly got my mind right. I immediately followed our assigned roles and started to recheck the window's condition and inspect the safety of the cabin. The six of us worked in coordination and successfully completed the transfer tasks. I was deeply impressed, becoming fully aware of the powerful strength of teamwork. I therefore feel a deeper reverence and love for this profession."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
14. Various of press conference in progress, reporters
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
15. Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 astronauts working in space station
16. Space station, Earth
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
17. Logos of Astronaut Center of China (L), China space station (R)
18. Press conference in progress
The crew of China's Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared details of how they calmly and methodically responded to a spacecraft window crack suspected to be caused by space debris, highlighting close coordination between the astronauts in orbit and the teams on the ground.
The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance after returning to Earth in November.
Among the topics of greatest concern to reporters was an incident that occurred shortly before the Shenzhou-20 crew was preparing to return, when a crack was discovered on a window of the return capsule, believed to have been caused by a possible impact from space debris.
"We took photographs right away and recorded the situation, and immediately transmitted the data back to the ground. Based on my visual observation, I initially judged that the crack was on the outermost layer of the spacecraft window. The crack had penetrated that outer layer, but it did not affect the safety of our continued stay in orbit. Afterwards, the two crews, six astronauts in total, carefully observed and discussed the condition of the window together, and fully cooperated with the ground teams to carry out rechecks and confirmation," said Shenzhou-20 mission commander Chen Dong.
"When we learned of the situation, we had discussions and reached a common understanding. At the same time, the ground teams communicated with us promptly, and we soon calmed down. This was because we had undergone solid emergency response training on the ground, and we had been mentally and psychologically prepared," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who made his first spaceflight during the mission.
"At the moment we discovered the potential danger, I felt nervous for a short while, but quickly got my mind right. I immediately followed our assigned roles and started to recheck the window's condition and inspect the safety of the cabin. The six of us worked in coordination and successfully completed the transfer tasks. I was deeply impressed, becoming fully aware of the powerful strength of teamwork. I therefore feel a deeper reverence and love for this profession," said Wang Jie, who also made his debut spaceflight.
Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total of 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.
China-Shenzhou-20 Crew/Experience
Dateline : Jan 16, 2026/File
Location : China;In Space
Duration : 1'51
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Shenzhou-20 crew at press conference
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of space station interior
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Dong, Shenzhou-20 astronaut (starting with shot 2/partially overlaid with shots 4/ending with shots 5-7):
"We took photographs right away and recorded the situation, and immediately transmitted the data back to the ground. Based on my visual observation, I initially judged that the crack was on the outermost layer of the spacecraft window. The crack had penetrated that outer layer, but it did not affect the safety of our continued stay in orbit. Afterwards, the two crews, six astronauts in total, carefully observed and discussed the condition of the window together, and fully cooperated with the ground teams to carry out rechecks and confirmation."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: China - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Various of ground team members at meeting
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 astronauts working in space station
FILE: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Date unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
7. Ground teams at meeting
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 astronauts working in space station
FILE: China - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of ground team members at control center
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Chen Zhongrui, Shenzhou-20 astronaut (partially overlaid with shot 11):
"When we learned of the situation, we had discussions and reached a common understanding. At the same time, the ground teams communicated with us promptly, and we soon calmed down. This was because we had undergone solid emergency response training on the ground, and we had been mentally and psychologically prepared."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: China - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
11. Various of ground team members at meeting
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. Press conference in progress
13. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Jie, Shenzhou-20 astronaut (starting with shot 12/partially overlaid with shot 14/ending with shots 15-16):
"At the moment we discovered the potential danger, I felt nervous for a short while, but quickly got my mind right. I immediately followed our assigned roles and started to recheck the window's condition and inspect the safety of the cabin. The six of us worked in coordination and successfully completed the transfer tasks. I was deeply impressed, becoming fully aware of the powerful strength of teamwork. I therefore feel a deeper reverence and love for this profession."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
14. Various of press conference in progress, reporters
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown (China Manned Space Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
15. Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 astronauts working in space station
16. Space station, Earth
Beijing, China - Jan 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
17. Logos of Astronaut Center of China (L), China space station (R)
18. Press conference in progress
The crew of China's Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared details of how they calmly and methodically responded to a spacecraft window crack suspected to be caused by space debris, highlighting close coordination between the astronauts in orbit and the teams on the ground.
The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance after returning to Earth in November.
Among the topics of greatest concern to reporters was an incident that occurred shortly before the Shenzhou-20 crew was preparing to return, when a crack was discovered on a window of the return capsule, believed to have been caused by a possible impact from space debris.
"We took photographs right away and recorded the situation, and immediately transmitted the data back to the ground. Based on my visual observation, I initially judged that the crack was on the outermost layer of the spacecraft window. The crack had penetrated that outer layer, but it did not affect the safety of our continued stay in orbit. Afterwards, the two crews, six astronauts in total, carefully observed and discussed the condition of the window together, and fully cooperated with the ground teams to carry out rechecks and confirmation," said Shenzhou-20 mission commander Chen Dong.
"When we learned of the situation, we had discussions and reached a common understanding. At the same time, the ground teams communicated with us promptly, and we soon calmed down. This was because we had undergone solid emergency response training on the ground, and we had been mentally and psychologically prepared," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who made his first spaceflight during the mission.
"At the moment we discovered the potential danger, I felt nervous for a short while, but quickly got my mind right. I immediately followed our assigned roles and started to recheck the window's condition and inspect the safety of the cabin. The six of us worked in coordination and successfully completed the transfer tasks. I was deeply impressed, becoming fully aware of the powerful strength of teamwork. I therefore feel a deeper reverence and love for this profession," said Wang Jie, who also made his debut spaceflight.
Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total of 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.
ID : 8462034
Published : 2026-01-17 12:12
Last Modified : 2026-01-17 19:08:31
Source : China Central Television (CCTV),Other
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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