Andrew Jones
Andrew is a freelance space journalist with a focus on reporting on China's rapidly growing space sector. He began writing for Space.com in 2019 and writes for SpaceNews, IEEE Spectrum, National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, New Scientist and others. Andrew first caught the space bug when, as a youngster, he saw Voyager images of other worlds in our solar system for the first time. Away from space, Andrew enjoys trail running in the forests of Finland. You can follow him on Twitter @AJ_FI.
Latest articles by Andrew Jones
![a white space suit with a gold visor next to a four-wheeled, car-like rover on a grey, dusty surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TeZN7zJ66EP85KPirS95t9-320-80.jpg)
Meet 'Tansuo' and 'Wangyu,' China's next moon rover and astronaut spacesuit (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's human spaceflight agency has unveiled official names for a spacesuit and rover to be used in the country's moon landing mission before the end of the decade.
![a cubic lunar lander on four legs sits on the dusty surface of the moon next to a small four-wheeled rover](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xhiNbbTC4nRE4hT6wArvw6-320-80.jpg)
Japan's Resilience lunar lander prepares for 1st swing around the moon
By Andrew Jones published
The second lunar lander from Japanese space exploration company ispace is ready for a flyby of the moon as part of its elongated moon landing journey.
![a blue-and-white planet on a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zVshpCkRtaNmGWaJueYPdn-320-80.jpg)
Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander leaves Earth orbit to head for the moon
By Andrew Jones published
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander is now headed for the moon after firing its engines to send it out of Earth orbit.
![A woman with light hair is wearing a red shirt, blue hat and sunglasses, facing right, speaking into a microphone.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X6RfXBmnApE6p88Po6EGdV-320-80.jpg)
Who is Janet Petro, Trump's pick for acting NASA administrator?
By Andrew Jones published
Janet Petro became the first woman to lead NASA on Jan. 20. Here's what we know about U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for head of the space agency.
![China's Yutu 2 rover, as seen by the Chang'e 4 lander, on the far side of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8it9UzqahpcpTECQbdUQDY-320-80.jpg)
Hopping robot will hunt for moon water on China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission in 2026
By Andrew Jones published
China is preparing to launch a pioneering mission to the moon next year to search for definitive evidence of water at the lunar south pole.
![an octagonal probe landed on the moon with earth in the distance in the black sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4Qi35ZbCJDo8SSSq6EfFp8-320-80.jpg)
Europe signs contract for its 1st moon lander, Argonaut
By Andrew Jones published
The Argonaut moon lander one way the European Space Agency is getting involved in international lunar exploration endeavors.
![An Indian GLSV rocket launches the NVS-02 navigation satellite to orbit on Jan. 28, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b6LknGqXDjTa9nFD2QDHu9-320-80.jpg)
Newly-launched Indian satellite left stranded by propulsion problem
By Andrew Jones published
An Indian navigation satellite has suffered a problem with its propulsion systems just four days after launch, preventing it from reaching its intended orbit.
![Intuitive Machines' second moon lander, named Athena, arrived on Florida's Space Coast on Jan. 28, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jvmgodugq3k5VmziQqtiqa-320-80.jpg)
Private Athena moon lander arrives in Florida ahead of SpaceX launch on Feb. 26
By Andrew Jones published
Athena, the second lunar lander from Intuitive Machines, is set to launch soon, carrying NASA payloads and Nokia's first-ever moon-based 4G network.
![A cube shaped spacecraft sits secured to a metal table.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/grosgXkfua694zVQuXtoTC-320-80.jpg)
Space mining company AstroForge identifies asteroid target for Odin launch next month
By Andrew Jones published
AstroForge has identified asteroid 2022 OB5 as the destination for its Mission 2 spacecraft, named Odin, which is set to launch next month on a SpaceX rocket.
![Earth floats in space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAXdzrFGrNDXnoSmRQpMAR-320-80.gif)
Japan's Resilience moon lander spots Point Nemo, Earth's remote spacecraft graveyard, from orbit (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
The second lunar lander from Japanese space exploration company ispace snapped a stunning image of the Earth as it prepares for its journey to the moon.
![Artist's illustration of SpaceX Starships on Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HPBMsab2ZsB4npXn9PhRpG-320-80.jpg)
Trump wants US to pursue 'manifest destiny' in space. What could that mean?
By Andrew Jones published
President Donald Trump recently invoked "manifest destiny" to outline a bold vision for America's space program. But what does this historic and controversial term mean when applied to outer space?
![A Chinese Long March 3B rocket lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the Shiyan-10 02 satellite on Dec. 29, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TPSnKeRV9RHW9hkXNJnUx5-320-80.jpg)
Chinese rocket booster falls to Earth, explodes near home (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China successfully launched a classified satellite on Thursday (Jan. 23), but a spent booster from the mission fell shockingly close to a family home.
![A CERES-1 carrier rocket carrying five satellites blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on January 20, 2025 in Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. The rocket blasted off at 6:11 p.m. on January 20, successfully sending a group of satellites including the Yunyao-1 37-40 and JTX-A-05 models into their planned orbits.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FmwDfmisVojeNYY75kXua5-320-80.jpg)
Chinese commercial Ceres-1 rocket launches 5 weather satellites to orbit (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Chinese company Galactic Energy launched five satellites atop a Ceres-1 four-stage rocket on Jan. 20, 2025.
![A Shenzhou 19 astronaut works outside the Tiangong space station during a spacewalk on Jan. 20, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xjGsDPU98sMY8H8GRhBFPC-320-80.jpg)
Chinese astronauts install debris shields on Tiangong space station during 8.5-hour spacewalk (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Two Chinese astronauts completed an 8.5-hour spacewalk on Jan. 20, a sojourn that installed debris shielding outside the Tiangong space station.
![Artist's illustration of Europe's ExoMars rover, named Rosalind Franklin, on the surface of the Red Planet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NB7oWhqtuXub3khrXoBFSd-320-80.jpg)
Europe plans to launch advanced Mars lander in 2035
By Andrew Jones published
The European Space Agency (ESA) wants to develop key technologies for a Mars surface lander by the mid-2030s.
![a white rocket fires flames from its engines as it flies above a curve of the Earth into space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yKecsAbKCRtCptFSMmoF7H-320-80.jpg)
SMILE! Europe and China move toward 2026 launch of space weather mission
By Andrew Jones published
The European Space Agency is set to launch a joint space science mission with China in early 2026 after a long collaboration.
![Artist's impression of a moon exploration scenario.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JCuJGtzCK5pBkNQsNU9G8c-320-80.jpg)
Finland becomes 53rd country to join the Artemis Accords for moon exploration
By Andrew Jones published
Finland just became the Artemis Accords' 53rd member nation, bolstering NASA's efforts to establish peaceful and cooperative international space exploration.
![fire and smoke spew from a sliver cylinder upright on a large metal platform](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kjePEzM3o46zNufQNdWHA8-320-80.jpg)
UK approves 1st vertical rocket launch from Saxavord Spaceport
By Andrew Jones published
German launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has taken a step towards a first launch by gaining a first-ever license to vertically launch an orbital rocket from mainland Europe.
![An orange man in a dark suit walks in front of a large white space capsule.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x3b5Fo9pChbUTTiUSgsZ2D-320-80.jpg)
How President Trump could change NASA
By Andrew Jones published
The new Trump administration could upend NASA's priorities, reshaping the Artemis moon program, climate science funding and the role of commercial space players.
![Ariane 6 fully stacked and ready for testing.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/prRDAogJsqdiBQcMaADtRm-320-80.jpg)
Europe's new Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket set for 2nd launch in February
By Andrew Jones published
Europe is moving towards the second launch of its new Ariane 6 launcher after finding and addressing anomalies following its debut flight.
![An artist's impression of astronauts working on the surface of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xf3RZ7mgCu6S7fpWF8HHpk-320-80.jpg)
Trump's space policy won't catch Europe off guard, ESA chief says
By Andrew Jones published
The head of the European Space Agency says that ESA is ready for any changes in NASA's direction that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may make.
![An ispace engineer inspects the “Tenacious” micro rover in the payload bay of the company’s lunar lander, “Resilience.”](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mwekr9ZBHxjvxAEfhG7u5E-320-80.jpg)
What's flying to the moon on ispace's Resilience lunar lander?
By Andrew Jones published
Tokyo-based company ispace's Resilience lunar lander will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket early Wednesday (Jan. 15). Here's what the spacecraft is carrying.
![a gold-foiled fixed-leg lander probe stands on a grey semi rocky surface beneath a black sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RW9nT5ktjYDeN8CiSmhEBK-320-80.jpg)
Blue Ghost moon lander will help NASA see Earth's magnetic field 'breathing' for 1st time
By Andrew Jones published
Firefly Aerospace's soon-to-launch Blue Ghost moon lander will help NASA better understand our home planet, and how it responds to space weather.
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