china space program

China announces plan to build early-warning system for dangerous asteroids

By Andrew Jones Published 9 July 26

The country's plans include spacecraft designed to detect asteroids coming from the direction of the sun, which has long been a space-rock blind spot.

China plans to double the size of its Tiangong space station while the ISS nears its end

By Andrew Jones Published 26 June 26

China plans to add three new modules to Tiangong along with a co-orbiting space telescope, as the ISS heads for a Pacific splashdown.

China's Shenzhou 21 astronauts return to Earth after being briefly 'stranded', wrapping up record-breaking mission (video)

By Mike Wall Published 29 May 26

China's Shenzhou 21 astronauts returned to Earth on Friday (May 29), wrapping up a record-breaking, and very eventful, space mission.

China just launched 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station. One will stay for a full year. (video)

By Andrew Jones Last updated 24 May 26

China's Shenzhou 23 astronaut mission launched Sunday (May 24) to relieve an overdue crew on the Tiangong space station.

China reveals 3-person Shenzhou 23 crew, including Hong Kong's 1st astronaut

By Andrew Jones Published 24 May 26

China has named the three astronauts due to fly on the Shenzhou 23 mission on Sunday (May 24), including Hong Kong's first astronaut.

Chinese astronaut conducts record-tying 6th spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones Published 18 March 26

Zhang Lu matched Chen Dong's tally of six spacewalks as he and crewmate Wu Fei completed a seven-hour excursion outside China's space station.

China's 1st moon astronauts could land in Rimae Bode, a 'geological museum' on the lunar near side

By Andrew Jones Published 9 March 26

A new study highlights the volcanic Rimae Bode region as a scientifically promising destination for China's first crewed moon landing mission, which the nation wants to achieve by 2030.

China aces test of next-gen lunar capsule and rocket in effort to land humans on moon before NASA (video)

By Mike Wall Published 11 February 26

China just took another step toward landing astronauts on the moon, acing a key abort test with its Mengzhou crew capsule and pulling off a soft splashdown with the returning rocket.

Can current space law handle the new space age?

By Andrew Jones Published 9 February 26

A new proposal suggests borrowing the "Conference of the Parties" model from climate diplomacy to update space law before orbital congestion and lunar competition escalate.

China joins race to develop space-based data centers with 5-year plan

By Julian Dossett Published 5 February 26

China will work on establishing space-based data centers as a part of a larger five-year plan to expand the nation's already significant presence in space.