China’s Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft has delayed its return to Earth after possibly being struck by small pieces of space debris, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced.

The delay is under review as officials conduct impact analysis and risk assessments, though no new landing date has been provided.

Shenzhou-20 is docked at the Tiangong space station alongside Shenzhou-21, currently in a handover period, and if repairs cannot be made, Shenzhou-21 or a backup spacecraft could bring the crew home.

The incident underscores the growing dangers posed by space debris, which has prompted international calls for better space traffic management and coordination, NBC News has reported.

China has also developed technologies, such as deorbiting sails, to reduce collision risks and safely remove spacecraft from orbit.