China Archives - Page 3 of 135 - SpaceNews

Chinese astronaut Zhang Lu in a white spacesuit with red markings works outside the Tiangong space station, attached to a robotic arm, with Earth’s oceans and cloud-covered surface visible in the background.

Civil

China set for its first one-year human spaceflight mission, confirms Pakistani astronaut flight

by Andrew Jones February 27, 2026February 27, 2026

A tall, cylindrical rocket is captured in the final moments of a vertical descent, hovering just above the surface of calm coastal waters during sunrise. Bright orange engine flames and thick plumes of white smoke billow outward as the rocket slows its descent for a soft splashdown. The scene is framed by a hazy sky, with distant land barely visible on the horizon. The water below reflects the rocket's light, and the atmosphere appears serene despite the powerful landing burn.

China’s Space Epoch raises new funding, targets 2026 launch and recovery attempt

by Andrew Jones February 17, 2026March 6, 2026

A rocket first stage stands vertically on a red offshore launch platform labeled ‘HOS-1’ as its engines fire, sending a bright flame and heavy smoke plume across the surrounding sea.

Low-profile Chinese launch firm conducts first stage static fire

by Andrew Jones February 16, 2026February 16, 2026

China’s iSpace launch firm raises record $729 million for reusable rockets

by Andrew Jones February 13, 2026March 6, 2026

China tests crewed spacecraft abort and rocket recovery in major lunar milestone

by Andrew Jones February 11, 2026March 23, 2026

Liftoff of the Long March 2F carrying Shenzhou-12 at 9:22 p.m. Eastern, June 16, 2021.

China launches reusable spaceplane on fourth secretive orbital mission

by Andrew Jones February 7, 2026February 7, 2026

China’s Mengzhou crew spacecraft launches away from the pad during a successful pad abort test at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on June 17, 2025, with plumes of smoke and dust rising from the desert launch site.

Civil

China set for in-flight abort test of Mengzhou crew spacecraft

by Andrew Jones February 6, 2026February 6, 2026

A Long March 2C rocket lifts off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China’s Gobi Desert, trailing a thick plume of orange-brown exhaust and dust as it rises beside the launch tower under a clear blue sky, with low buildings and flat desert terrain stretching into the distance.

China launches AlSat-3B for Algeria, further launches delayed ahead of key human spaceflight test

by Andrew Jones January 31, 2026January 31, 2026

Civil

China eyes space resources, space tourism and on-orbit digital infrastructure

by Andrew Jones January 29, 2026January 29, 2026

A Long March rocket stands on a launch pad in a desert setting during a static fire test, with engines firing and producing a large plume of white and gray exhaust and dust spreading outward across the ground, framed by lightning towers under a clear sky.

Civil

China set for crewed lunar tests, record launches, moon mission and reusable rockets in 2026

by Andrew Jones January 28, 2026January 28, 2026