China's uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft has successfully docked with the Tiangong space station, providing relief to the crew who were relying on a damaged capsule with a cracked window as their only ride home.

Shenzhou-22 was launched at 4.11 am UTC on Tuesday, November 25, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on a fast-track rendezvous with the orbiting complex. Docking occurred a few hours later. Although the vehicle was not carrying a crew, it was loaded with fresh supplies and a repair kit for a cracked window on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft.

Shenzhou-22 will now serve as the return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts, whose own spacecraft was used to return the Shenzhou-20 crew to Earth. Shenzhou-22 was supposed to launch in 2026, but was on standby at

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