China on Tuesday launched the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft to provide a safe return option for three astronauts on its Tiangong space station after their original craft was deemed unfit for use.

Shenzhou 22 successfully docked with Tiangong the same day and will serve as the return vehicle for the crew that arrived on November 1, though they are not scheduled to come home until 2026.

The move follows an incident earlier this month involving the Shenzhou 20 mission. That crew’s return to Earth was delayed by nine days after their spacecraft suffered window damage. They ultimately came back aboard the newly arrived Shenzhou 21, which had ferried their replacements to the station.

While the Shenzhou 20 astronauts landed safely, the damage meant the new three-member team stationed at Tiangong had no emergency return craft available until Shenzhou 22’s arrival.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, the damaged Shenzhou 20 capsule will be brought back to Earth later for inspection, as it no longer meets safety requirements for crewed reentry.

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China has been steadily expanding its space program with continuous missions to Tiangong, which was built after Beijing was barred from participating in the International Space Station due to U.S. security concerns over China’s military-run space program.

Tiangong — meaning “Heavenly Palace” — welcomed its first crew in 2021 and is smaller than the ISS, which has been in orbit for 25 years.

Source: AP