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 gold-foiled rover with white wheels sits on a white table covered in a blue tablecloth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FL5EGLdVuZHoKXcVR36oHX-320-80.jpg)
Japan's ispace will fly a tiny European-built lunar rover to the moon this year (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
The Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Japanese space exploration firm ispace has finished building a micro lunar rover, which is now set to fly to the moon.
![headshots of six smiling people — four men and two women — are displayed in two rows.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iVgssmw6AytQz2Zr8QGeH7-320-80.jpg)
Next Blue Origin space tourism flight will launch youngest woman above the Kármán line
By Andrew Jones published
Blue Origin has announced the six crewmembers for its next space tourism flight. One of them will become the youngest woman to cross the Kármán line.
![China test-fires a YF-75E engine for its planned Long March 10 crewed moon rocket.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rZy6KdUkDKzFRtj6aNXCXC-320-80.jpg)
Watch China test-fire engine for new crewed moon rocket (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China has test-fired a new engine for its planned Long March 10 rocket, which is designed to take astronauts to the moon.
![The astronauts of China's Shenzhou 18 mission simulate a debris-strike emergency aboard the Tiangong space station in July 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X5RMZfeADFcyuU5espMQq7-320-80.jpg)
Chinese astronauts simulate a debris-strike emergency on the Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Shenzhou 18 mission staged an emergency drill recently to boost preparedness aboard the country's Tiangong space station.
![a silvery-white spacecraft on the surface of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LEb2kLUkdpZay9QTj8srWS-320-80.png)
China's tiny 'Golden Toad' rover used AI to take an epic photo on the moon's far side (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A new video shows how a tiny rover on China's ambitious Chang'e 6 mission used AI to snap an epic shot on the far side of the moon.
![a rocket launches at night, leaving a streak of light through the sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uDcySG8CVonwr9X7D2MThN-320-80.png)
Firefly Aerospace CEO leaves company amid misconduct investigation
By Andrew Jones published
Rocket maker Firefly announced on July 17 that Bill Weber will no longer serve as CEO of the company, effective immediately.
![a space station shaped like a wheel in orbit above earth with a streamlined silver rocket approaching it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uV7RZvjnnYfgs55bqeV5JR-320-80.jpg)
Looking ahead to the next 25 years of private space stations
By Andrew Jones published
On Space.com's 25th anniversary, here's a look at the next 25 years of commercial space stations that are set to replace the International Space Station in low Earth orbit and beyond.
![three panel image showing a space shuttle launch on the left, in the middle a long exposure photograph of a spacex falcon 9 rocket launch shows a stream of light across the sky and the right image shows a rocket lifting off from a launch pad.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aJuw8eUu6DjnLbSw2UH3FE-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX, the rise of China and more: How spaceflight has changed since 1999
By Andrew Jones published
Space travel has changed from government-driven missions to a dynamic, commercially driven frontier over the past 25 years, driven by advancements in technology and the rise of private companies.
![a spacewalking astronaut in a white spacesuit is seen through the open hatch of his spacecraft, with earth's cloudy skies behind him](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L44tbqqMz7MkrS9qAt8bW4-320-80.jpg)
Chinese astronauts install space-junk shielding on Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Two Chinese astronauts continued installing space debris protection outside the nation's Tiangong space station during a July 3 EVA.
![a white rocket launches into a night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pZgcMhQVkMEfedFjbFFeXA-320-80.jpg)
China launches communications satellite on 30th mission of the year (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A Long March 7A rocket launched the ChinaSat-3A spacecraft on June 29, boosting China's geostationary communications satellite fleet.
![The astronauts of China's Shenzhou 18 mission aboard the Tiangong space station prep for an upcoming spacewalk.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KTBYrbQ9yCNS7py88NVG6K-320-80.jpg)
China's Shenzhou 18 astronauts prep for 2nd spacewalk (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Shenzhou 18 astronauts are getting ready to take another spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station.
![a mars rover's robotic arm investigates a bright, dusty rock on the red planet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VANwmA44nC9rjkG3oERhhL-320-80.jpg)
Perseverance Mars rover team revives life-hunting instrument after 6 months of effort
By Andrew Jones published
The Perseverance rover's SHERLOC instrument has been revived to continue its search for evidence of microbial life on Mars.
![a person in a bulky spacesuit floats weightless inside the fuselage of an aircraft surrounded by people in blue flight suits and safety goggles](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kj23wQsGS83yf3eG2YRRfL-320-80.jpg)
Collins backs out of ISS spacesuit contract with NASA
By Andrew Jones published
Collins Aerospace has exited a contract to develop new spacesuits for NASA following talks with the agency.
![a cylindrical spacecraft stands up right in the desert above illustrations of the moon's surface on the ground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxwHd5csdyHoUgF7ebr9t6-320-80.jpg)
The moon on Earth: Astrobotic unveils 'proving ground' for future lunar missions
By Andrew Jones published
Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic has unveiled a lunar testing ground to help prepare for a range of coming moon missions.
![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)
China opens Chang'e 6 return capsule containing samples from moon's far side (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Chang'e 6 mission return capsule has been transferred to Beijing and opened to access its precious cargo — samples from the moon's mysterious far side.
![a silvery-white spacecraft on the surface of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LEb2kLUkdpZay9QTj8srWS-320-80.png)
What happened to China's Chang'e 6 lander on the moon's far side?
By Andrew Jones published
The Chang'e 6 lander, which collected the first-ever samples on the moon's far side, apparently switched off after that material was launched off the lunar surface.
![a white rocket launches into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7XaRiDfGy9PZrRkQtxJnim-320-80.jpg)
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin could soon launch Nigeria's 1st-ever space tourist
By Andrew Jones published
A Nigerian could soon make it to space for the first time ever, via Jeff Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origin.
![blistering white flames burst from the two nozels piped on either side of the bottom of a rocket, fixed with two dark metalic engines shining through the smoke, shooting out a faint blue flame like two diamonds toward the ground.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X3XXSUzMyxQep4kEQUSN5f-320-80.jpg)
Pentagon picks SpaceX, Blue Origin and ULA for $5.6 billion launch deal
By Andrew Jones published
SpaceX, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance will compete for National Security Space Launch contracts worth up to $5.6 billion across fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
![a black and white rocket launches into a night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tZaPMkTAEN2zpUJ28kVCZf-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab launches 5 IoT satellites on landmark 50th mission (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Rocket Lab launched its Electron rocket for the 50th time on Thursday (June 20), reaching the milestone in record time.
![a silvery-white spacecraft on the surface of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LEb2kLUkdpZay9QTj8srWS-320-80.png)
How China's Chang'e 6 minirover snapped its epic photo on the moon's far side
By Andrew Jones published
China has revealed details about a miniature rover tucked away on the country's pioneering Chang'e 6 lunar far side sample-return mission.
![a white space capsule hangs in the blackness of space, with earth to the right of the frame](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hQSEPuUQWGLK27MppSSr2J-320-80.jpg)
'The spacecraft really reacted great:' NASA astronauts praise Boeing Starliner’s performance (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The first astronauts to fly Boeing's new Starliner vehicle have spoken of the spacecraft in glowing terms.
![an image of the moon with a round red-white-and-blue swirl over it. korean characters are beneath the logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AYAx6WJj9mGAmDbBm7qCCJ-320-80.jpg)
South Korea creates new KASA space agency, sets sights on the moon and Mars
By Andrew Jones published
South Korea has announced the creation of a new space agency and is aiming to land its own spacecraft on the moon and Mars in the coming decades.
![venus, with its mottled tan-and-brown atmosphere, is seen against the blackness of space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Uq3duqeiWqg9QEVAVsj5Xh-320-80.jpg)
Japan loses contact with Akatsuki, humanity's only active Venus probe
By Andrew Jones published
The Japanese space agency has lost contact with its intrepid Venus orbiter, Akatsuki.
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