China Increases Safety Measures to Handle Space Debris: A Look at the Shenzhou 17 Mission and Its Impact on the Future of Space Exploration

On April 24, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced that two successful spacewalks had been performed by the astronauts of the Shenzhou 17 mission to repair damage to the solar battery of the Thien Cung space station. The incident led to a loss of power for the station and highlighted the need for stronger measures to handle space debris.

As a result, China has announced that it will take more active steps in the future to ensure safety against space debris. This includes increasing its efforts to monitor space debris with high-resolution cameras, assigning reinforcement tasks to the Shenzhou 18 crew during spacewalks, and installing equipment to increase resilience against space debris.

The increasing amount of space debris from human activities is a growing concern, with over 43,000 objects being tracked by NORAD as of April 2024. Both micrometeorites and human activity pose a threat to space stations like Thien Cung and the International Space Station (ISS). To address this issue, China is enhancing its ability to forecast orbits accurately and reduce false alarm rates.

The Thien Cung station has also been adjusting its position to avoid collisions with space debris. Despite these efforts, however, accidents like this one are still possible due to the unpredictable nature of orbital mechanics. As such, it is important for all countries involved in space exploration and operation to work together to develop effective strategies for mitigating the risks posed by space debris.