In recent news, the Thien Cung space station experienced damage due to a collision with space debris. The solar battery was affected, but fortunately, astronauts from the Shenzhou 17 mission were able to perform two spacewalks outside the Tiangong station to repair the damage. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced the successful repairs at a press conference on April 24 and also revealed plans to take more active measures in the future to ensure safety against space debris.
The increasing amount of space debris from human activities is a growing concern, with over 43,000 objects currently being tracked by NORAD as of April 2024. This includes more than 7,500 satellites in orbit as of May 2023. To avoid collisions with this debris, the Thien Cung station has been adjusting its position, while China is enhancing its ability to forecast orbits accurately and reduce false alarm rates.
In an effort to protect the safety and operation of space stations in orbit, future measures include monitoring the station with high-resolution cameras, assigning reinforcement tasks to the Shenzhou 18 crew during spacewalks, and installing equipment to increase resilience against space debris. These proactive steps aim to mitigate risks posed by both micrometeorites and human activity.