Tag: China
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Here are the launches and landings we’re most excited about in 2026
Last year delivered doses of drama and excitement in the space business, with a record number of launches, breathtaking vistas of other worlds, and a multitude of breakthroughs and setbacks. 2026 is shaping up to be another thrilling year in the cosmos. For the first time in more than 54 years, astronauts are training to…
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Launch Previews: International launches fill manifest during last full week of 2025
The last full week of 2025 will be a busy one, with nine launches scheduled on the launch manifest. Of these, only one will launch from the United States — a single Falcon 9 mission from California. Innospace looks to finally debut their Hanbit-Nano rocket after several delays at the beginning of the week, with…
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Launch Previews: Ariane 6, Falcon 9, Atlas V, and Electron launches highlight busy week
Global launch activity is set to surge over the next week, with 13 missions scheduled to launch from sites around the world. China’s Long March 12A is set to debut with stage recovery, South Korea’s first Hanbit-Nano commercial rocket is set to launch, and Europe’s Ariane 6 will launch a batch of Galileo satellites. SpaceX…
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China Set for First Attempt to Recover Rocket First Stage With Zhuque-3 Launch
China is set to attempt the recovery of a rocket’s first stage for the first time on Nov. 29, according to an airspace closure notice issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The launch is scheduled to take place from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, with the designated landing zone for the first…
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China Unveils Action Plan to Boost Commercial Space Firms and Overseas Expansion
China’s space agency has released a two-year action plan aimed at accelerating the growth of its commercial space sector and encouraging private companies to expand overseas and participate in international cooperation, according to a policy document issued this week. The plan, released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Tuesday, calls on Chinese commercial…
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China to Launch Unmanned Shenzhou-22 to Restore Backup Capability at Tiangong Space Station
China will launch the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on Tuesday, its space authorities said on Monday, marking an effort to restore normal operations at the Tiangong space station after a damaged vessel forced an unexpected reshuffling of mission schedules. The Shenzhou-22 will replace the Shenzhou-21 return craft, which was brought back to Earth six months earlier…
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Shenzhou 22 launches uncrewed to Chinese Tiangong space station
The Shenzhou 22 mission, originally scheduled to fly next year, launched successfully on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 04:11 UTC from Site 901 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China’s Inner Mongolia province. Shenzhou 22, mounted atop a Chang Zheng-2F rocket, launched without crew and safely docked autonomously with the Tiangong space station after a…
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China Accelerates Launch of Backup Shenzhou Spacecraft After Damage to Docked Capsule
China is preparing to launch its next Shenzhou spacecraft to the Tiangong space station ahead of schedule after damage to a docked return capsule disrupted routine crew operations, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft—originally planned for launch in mid-2026—will now be sent uncrewed roughly six months early to restore an emergency return…
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Launch Roundup: Shenzhou-22 flies un-crewed to Tiangong, SpaceX launch four Falcon 9 missions
In another busy week of launches, SpaceX launched four Falcon 9 missions — four are Starlink missions; a fifth, the Transporter 15 rideshare mission, was expected but has now been pushed back to next week. Internationally, China has launched three rockets from Jiuquan and Xichang, including an uncrewed mission to the Tiangong space station. The…
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Chinese Astronauts Land Safely After Debris Damage Forces Unplanned Return Shift
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after their trip home was delayed when space debris struck their spacecraft last week, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) disclosed the extent of the damage for the first time, saying that “tiny cracks” were discovered in a small window of the…