How space debris hitting Chinese spacecraft is a warning to regulation

China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was hit by a piece of space debris floating in orbit, causing Chinese officials to delay the spacecraft’s return from its Tiangong space station to early November 2025.

Also implicated all three Sugar Astronaut – called Taconauts – who were ready to return EarthThis incident sheds light on the growing risk The increasing amount of space poses a question for China and the wider international community debris,

I study China’s space program. My Research Suggests that national pride plays an important role in China’s growing space ambitions. As China continues to invest in expensive space capabilities, it will also become vulnerable to losing them. The increase in space debris may encourage Chinese officials to cooperate with the United States on measures that reduce the risk of collision.

Space debris – a growing issue

space debris Is creating increasing problems for space missions. Contains any artificial substance Class not functioning as satellites or spaceshipThey range in size from a speck of paint to a large rocket body approximately the size of a school bus,

In the most commonly used orbit – low Earth orbit – this debris can move at speeds of about 18,000 miles per hour, about seven times the speed of a bullet. At such high speeds, even small pieces of space debris can be extremely destructive, to the extent that this debris may continue to grow until one day it renders some critical orbiters unusable. When space debris collides with other objects and fragments, they can break into smaller pieces, creating even more debris.

It is somewhat ironic that China’s spacecraft were damaged by space junk. This country is responsible for the creation of most of the space debris. In 2007, China blew up a defunct Fengyun-1C weather satellite to test an anti-satellite weapon. It generated the most space debris in history – more than 3,000 pieces are still orbiting today.

On several occasions, the International Space Station has had to maneuver to avoid being hit by debris from this test, including as recently as 2021.

anti satellite weapons

Why would China or any other country want to develop anti-satellite weapons? Satellites provide significant advantages to militaries. They help in reconnaissance and intelligence, allow precise targeting and guidance of long-range weapons, support communications over large distances and supply weather data, to name just a few uses.

These advantages were demonstrated during the First Gulf War, often referred to as the “First Space War”. The United States used space technologies to quickly and decisively defeat Iraqi forces in a matter of weeks, and with far fewer casualties than expected. The Gulf War had a profound impact on Chinese military thinking, with People’s Liberation Army analysts recognizing the importance of space technologies in modern warfare.

While the United States has been and continues to be highly dependent on space capabilities, China has historically been less dependent on them. This means that China traditionally has less to lose by attacking satellites in orbit and comparatively more to gain from disabling an opponent’s satellites.

Since the 1990s, China has invested in technologies that can jam, disable, or completely destroy another country’s satellites. The effort is motivated by a desire to counter a major weakness of the US military – its heavy reliance on space capabilities.

Yet much has changed since China’s first anti-satellite test in 2007.

China has gradually narrowed the gap with the United States in space capabilities and is now one of the most powerful spacefaring nations on Earth. As a result, China is now at greater risk if it loses access to space.

Space debris is becoming a serious threat to Chinese interests in space. For example, in 2022, reports emerged that debris from Russia’s 2021 ASAT test came dangerously close to a Chinese satellite. Similarly, in 2021 China filed a claim with the United Nations that China’s Tiangong space station had to perform rescue maneuvers due to a “close encounter” with Starlink satellites. And now, in November 2025, China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft has actually been hit by space debris.

identifying the problem

It is too early to judge how seriously Chinese officials view the threat of space debris. However, the high-profile nature of this recent incident may alert China’s public and authorities to the dangers posed by space debris.

China’s space station, its astronauts, and its satellites are important to the Chinese Communist Party. If space debris permanently destroyed parts or all of China’s space station, or even killed a Chinese astronaut, it would likely cause significant public outcry.

China’s space station has been a project under construction for three decades and is the crown jewel of its space program. Tiangong is set to become the only space station in orbit if the United States moves forward with its plans to deorbit the ISS in 2030.

Just as the owner of an expensive Lamborghini might be concerned about dangerous road conditions that could damage their prized possession, Chinese officials might be concerned about China’s ability to operate its space station if space junk continues to clutter low Earth orbit.

Even if the space debris does not harm China’s space station, it still poses a threat to Chinese satellites. And low Earth orbit is likely to get even more crowded, as SpaceX has announced plans to add 40,000 Starlink satellites to orbit, and China plans to add thousands more satellites to low Earth orbit through its Guowang and Qianfan satellite megaconstellations.

China’s increasing sensitivity to space debris creates an area of ​​mutual concern where the United States and China may be able to work together to avoid future accidents.

Measures to reduce risks may include both countries informing each other about potential conflicts. China and the United States may also begin discussions on how to operate satellites safely or remove them from orbit when they are no longer useful.

It remains to be seen what lessons Chinese decision-makers take from this recent episode. But the problem of space debris is not ending.