SpaceX and Musk called on to rescue China's Shenzhou-20 crew

"SpaceX and Elon Musk are once again being called on to rescue spacefarers - this time, the Chinese crew of Shenzhou-20, delayed on China's Tiangong space station after suspected space debris damage. The three-person crew including Chen Dong, Chen Zhongui, and Wang Jie, arrived in April and were supposed to return in November after a handover with the Shenzhou-21 crew. That return has been postponed while engineers assess potential damage from what reports describe as "a tiny piece of space debris.""

"SpaceX fans quickly began calling for a rescue mission. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump instructed Musk to "go get" the crew of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, whom Trump claimed were "virtually abandoned" by the Biden administration. Rather than correct the misunderstanding, Musk pledged SpaceX would bring back the "stranded" astronauts. A Chinese rescue mission is improbable as the Shenzhou-20 crew faces no immediate danger and China could simply launch Shenzhou-22 earlier as a replacement, if needed."

Shenzhou-20's three-person crew—Chen Dong, Chen Zhongui, and Wang Jie—arrived at China's Tiangong station in April and were due to return in November after a handover with Shenzhou-21. Their return was delayed while engineers assess potential damage from a reported "tiny piece of space debris." SpaceX supporters urged a rescue mission, recalling prior political calls for Elon Musk to retrieve other stranded astronauts. A Chinese rescue is unlikely because the crew faces no immediate danger and China could launch Shenzhou-22 earlier if necessary. A 2022 Soyuz micrometeor strike prompted an uncrewed replacement then, and Crew Dragon rescue options are limited by launch schedules and docking compatibility.

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