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 split screen image of a rocket lifting off, on the left from a launch tower in a mountainous setting, and on the right, flying through a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tcydw4euG9kv6JHV4zx6eH-320-80.jpg)
China launches 10 satellites on 2 rockets less than 6 hours apart (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China launched separate sets of Earth-observation and "Internet of Things" satellites into orbit on Friday (Sept. 20) on two different missions.
![Three astronauts in blue jumpsuits float in a white space module, wearing gas masks connected to gas tanks.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BCMBqCyyduhmxcFUDkPWoe-320-80.jpg)
China's astronauts conduct emergency drills and deploy payloads into space (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Life remains busy for the astronauts aboard China's Tiangong space station, with a range of drills, maintenance and experiments to carry out.
![Technicians remove the samples collected on the moon's far side from the return capsule of the Chang'e 6 lunar mission.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CEzEdUKdvmJ7nrYj2mKXKU-320-80.jpg)
What the 1st analysis of China's Chang'e 6 lunar far side samples revealed
By Andrew Jones published
In late June, the Chang'e 6 lunar lander returned to Earth with samples of the moon. Now, the first paper about these samples has been published.
![The Yutu 2 rover, as seen by the Change 4 lander](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6Xjg2DGZaDfyh6oukP668K-320-80.jpg)
China's Yutu 2 rover still going strong after nearly 6 years on the far side of the moon (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Chang'e 4 rover Yutu 2 has been working on the far side of the moon for nearly six years. It was designed to operate for just three lunar days, or about three Earth months.
![A tan flat-faced semi pulls an erect white rocket out of a tall hanger.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m3iwxayi2K6kXdibwpP9ii-320-80.jpg)
China prepares for 1st launch of new Long March 8A rocket
By Andrew Jones published
China's new Long March 8A rocket could fly for the first time by the end of the year, helping the country build a number of planned satellite megaconstellation.
![a person in a white coat, a mask and blue hairnet inspects a large black-and-gold spacecraft inside a white clean room](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mwekr9ZBHxjvxAEfhG7u5E-320-80.jpg)
Japan's ispace will launch its 2nd lunar lander to the moon in December
By Andrew Jones published
Japanese company ispace plans to launch Mission 2, its second shot at landing on the moon, this December on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
![a grey and orange moon pockmarked with craters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xmagtJAcf2Sk36pNcct7WR-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Juno probe spots massive new volcano on Jupiter moon Io
By Andrew Jones published
Researchers have spotted a huge new active volcano on Jupiter's moon Io by comparing images taken by two NASA missions more than a quarter of a century apart.
![A closeup of a white-shelled astronaut helmet from the left, extending to the middle of the image. A copper-shaded visor stretches across the dimmed interior face. A black-tipped white glove tests on the visor.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AA6XuPygDcstf3QfNk9Fvh-320-80.jpg)
How SpaceX built a new spacesuit for Polaris Dawn's private spacewalk (video)
By Andrew Jones published
SpaceX has given us a detailed look at their stylish and innovative new extravehicular activity suit ahead of it being worn during the Polaris Dawn mission's first-ever private spacewalk.
![illustration of a base on the moon, with a rocket launching in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cCCrUzXkj2roMmBdDpUT9B-320-80.jpg)
China plans to build moon base at the lunar south pole by 2035
By Andrew Jones published
The first phase of China's moon base will be completed around 2035 near the lunar south pole, and an extended model will be built by about 2050, if all goes according to plan.
![illustration of a base on the moon, with a rocket launching in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cCCrUzXkj2roMmBdDpUT9B-320-80.jpg)
China to test lunar-soil bricks in space to pave the way for its planned moon base
By Andrew Jones published
The experiment aboard China's Tiangong space station will expose bricks made of moon-soil simulant to space's harsh conditions, helping shape the future of lunar infrastructure.
![a grey, cratered plnaet is cast in partial shadow. In the foreground, an arm from a spacecraft hangs from the top right.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XvkWD84EXPnZPGWno4knbf-320-80.jpg)
BepiColombo probe captures stunning Mercury images in closest flyby yet
By Andrew Jones published
BepiColombo made a close flyby of Mercury on Sept. 4, getting just 103 miles (165 kilometers) above the planet.
![two astronauts in blue flight suits look at a laptop aboard a white-walled space station](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TRnhrRyGfwgw6Su7KnmZN-320-80.png)
Chinese astronauts study ancient microbes aboard Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station are studying microbes, to help determine if some of Earth's early lifeforms can handle a simulated cosmic environment.
![a cube-shaped spacecraft with two rectangular solar panels in orbit high above a rocky, crater-covered planet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UsBiN7cLWXftU6tMhXq8gQ-320-80.jpg)
Thruster issues delay BepiColombo probe's Mercury arrival until November 2026
By Andrew Jones published
A thruster glitch suffered this past April will delay the BepiColombo mission's arrival at Mercury by nearly a year, to November 2026.
![An artist rendering of crawler-transporter 2, with the mobile launcher 2 and Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1B atop, as it makes its way to Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in preparation for liftoff. T](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SL2SEGiAgkQ3E5ZPqQgrhN-320-80.jpg)
NASA Inspector General issues harsh report on delayed SLS mobile launcher project
By Andrew Jones published
The NASA Office of Inspector General has issued a scathing report on the Mobile Launcher 2 project. ML-2 is needed to transport NASA's Space Launch System moon rocket to the launch pad.
![A yellow-wrapped spacecraft is upside down on the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SAG4onnMkZgJwBqanap2Ba-320-80.png)
Japan declares its SLIM moon lander dead at last
By Andrew Jones published
The SLIM moon lander survived a staggering three lunar nights before JAXA officially declared the mission to be over.
![a needle-nosed white and silver plane flies over a desert-mountain landscape](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4rUC9BLjmW7yNbCoMWJVJ-320-80.jpg)
Boom Supersonic's XB-1 prototype aces 2nd test flight (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
Colorado company Boom Supersonic's XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft flew for the second time ever on Monday (Aug. 26).
![China's Shenzhou 18 astronauts perform a variety of activities aboard the nation's Tiangong space station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B2Ec3LbVVJRTTAV7f2dmqR-320-80.jpg)
Watch Chinese astronauts conduct medical tests and grow plants in orbit (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Newly released footage shows Chinese astronauts engaging in environmental monitoring and growing plants aboard the nation's Tiangong space station.
![A white and black Boeing Starliner space capsule is seen docked at the International Space Station through a station window with the Earth below.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dDu63B6tcTPZiUrcFpDs96-320-80.jpg)
How 2 fatal shuttle disasters weighed on NASA's decision to bring Boeing Starliner astronauts home on SpaceX Dragon
By Andrew Jones published
The Challenger and Columbia space shuttle tragedies influenced NASA's thinking on how the Boeing Starliner astronauts should return home, agency officials said.
![a white rocket with two white side boosters stands on a grey metal platform fixed on a track at the splitting toward two pink decorated hanger buildings](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K5w5bJrQzNi8zq4ZJ5NXrC-320-80.jpg)
India to launch Gaganyaan crew capsule test flight by end of 2024
By Andrew Jones published
India plans to launch a key test of its Gaganyaan crew vehicle before the end of the year as the country gears up for human spaceflight missions.
![Chinese researchers put a rover prototype through its paces here on Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/umWxyG3SnirZsxZa7Y4AQE-320-80.jpg)
Watch Chinese researchers test out new Mars and moon rover tech (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Researchers from universities across China are testing out their designs for rovers for exploring the moon and Mars.
![SpaceX's third Starship vehicle stands stacked at the company's Starbase site in South Texas. SpaceX posted this photo on X on March 12, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oFSZiNVKM6f2jiANZA8eAH-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX refutes reports that its Starship launch pad system polluted Texas waters
By Andrew Jones published
SpaceX has strongly refuted a media report claiming the company violated environmental regulations by releasing pollutants related to Starship launches in South Texas.
![artist's illustration of a white rocket launching, in a top-down view from just above the payload fairing.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/r3pUzKrH9jjq69MjESW6xh-320-80.jpg)
Chinese company CAS Space takes steps toward 1st launch of reusable rocket
By Andrew Jones published
The Chinese commercial space firm CAS Space is making serious progress on a new reusable rocket called Kinetica-2, and is targeting a debut in 2025.
![two massive side booster spew yellow orange fire lifting the core stage of a rocket as two main engines also ignite](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NoR7vVphcJGj4NdnMjoTDC-320-80.jpg)
Boeing needs to improve quality-control work on SLS moon rocket, NASA Inspector General finds
By Andrew Jones published
A scathing report from NASA's Office of Inspector General has highlighted several critical issues related to the development of the next version of the agency's SLS moon rocket.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!