New Delhi, Nov. 15 -- Three Chinese astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday afternoon following a nine-day delay caused by damage to their spacecraft from space debris, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) revealed that "tiny cracks" were discovered in a small window of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft's return capsule. In a statement, CMSA said, "The capsule does not meet the safety requirements for a crewed return. Shenzhou-20 will remain in orbit and conduct relevant experiments."

Originally, the astronauts were scheduled to return on November 5 after completing a six-month mission on China's Tiangong space station, part of the Shenzhou programme, or "Divine Vessel."

To bring the crew back, they ...