(also known as space is hard, but keep calm and carry on)
The Chinese generally have had some good success on their Tiangong space station.
The "standard procedure" for almost every trip to a space station is to launch a craft that then docks with the space station and remains there until they are ready to return. They then board that same craft and head back to Earth.
But about a week ago, something unusual happened. The spacecraft theTaikonauts used was struck by space debris, and damaged. Enough so that its a risk to return the spacefarers home in it.
And in this case, there are no other spacecraft docked to the station, so they are legitimately stranded on the space station without a means to get home.
The international community started to offer assistance, and of course, right on cue, Elon said he'd rescue them! That sound bite made the rounds... but the Chinese weren't having it. They thanked the community (though as far as I can tell, never him publicly) for their assistance. And then announced they would be launching a new space craft for them soon.
And that is that. No hyperbole. No mention from them about being stranded. No political games. Just a sincere interest in their well being, and a plan to bring them home.
And then in one of the most amusing moments, they posted about the Taikonauts having the first barbecue in orbit as a somewhat momentous occasion.
Not everything has to devolve into something else....
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