China's Shenzhou-20 spacecraft took a hit from a piece of space debris floating through orbit, causing Chinese officials to delay the spacecraft's return from its Tiangong space station in early November. In addition to stranding the three Chinese astronauts -- called taikonauts -- who were set to return to Earth, this incident highlights the increasing risks posed to China and the broader international community by the growing amount of space debris . I study China's space program. My research