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 and black rocket launches into a gray sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UFpdaoyNmtPLTxRYhRkCWf-320-80.jpg)
China launches test satellite to very low Earth orbit (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China launched four satellites on Tuesday (May 21) to test out new technologies. The spacecraft went up on the third-ever launch of the Kuaizhou-11 solid rocket.
![a white rocket lifts off in the desert above a cloud of dust and smoke](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KSQQc7k4gsmhpHCEJ8qxLn-320-80.jpg)
China launches new mystery Shiyan satellite (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China launched the latest in its secretive Shiyan satellite series on May 12 atop a Long March 4C rocket. China's space agency says the satellite will be used for "space environment monitoring."
![photo of a large white and silver mars rover sitting on the red dirt, with several small buttes in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VJ9eKiRyZouYVMCkwnuaVf-320-80.png)
NASA's Mars sample return mission is in trouble. Could a single SLS megarocket be the answer?
By Andrew Jones published
A single launch of NASA’s Space Launch System megarocket could loft all the hardware needed to return Mars samples to Earth, according to a new Boeing proposal.
![a tall nozel secured and held away from a wall with metal arms, spews fire downward into a cutout square. There is scaffolding and pipes around.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVZfgnN8ePHAbMN9LLcY8H-320-80.jpg)
India makes breakthrough by test-firing new 3D-printed rocket engine (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
India recently performed a successful hot-fire test of a rocket engine that was built using 3D printing technology, a breakthrough that could boost the nation's spaceflight prospects.
![an illustration of an expansive moon base featuring several different structures, vehicles and many solar panels](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MqHTfhnXLZQpiiLHxnJ2Gn-320-80.jpg)
China unveils video of its moon base plans, which weirdly includes a NASA space shuttle
By Andrew Jones published
A video outlining China's moon base plans depicts a wide number of concepts, including surface sample return operations, a lander and rover, and supporting orbital satellites.
![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)
China releases world's most detailed moon atlas (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The atlas, which is available in Chinese and English, depicts the surface of the moon with a scale of 1:2.5 million. It highlights many intriguing geological features, such as impact craters.
![a rocket launches in the early morning hours above a plume of fire](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/keNWt6L5hNcKYdjqYFMnGE-320-80.jpg)
China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station on Shenzhou 18 mission (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A Long March 2F rocket lifted off from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center today (April 25), carrying the Shenzhou 18 spacecraft and its three-person crew into orbit.
![The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 18 mission were revealed on April 24, 2024, the day before their planned launch to the Tiangong space station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BB5Kos6iP5Ma6cPwdEFmj9-320-80.jpg)
China reveals Shenzhou 18 astronauts ahead of April 25 launch to Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China has unveiled the three-person crew for its Shenzhou 18 mission, which is set to launch toward the Tiangong space station on Thursday (April 25).
![flames shoot out of a cone-shaped rocket engine poking out of a hangar-like building](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mv9spbTT4dbiebYaVoiyJX-320-80.jpg)
China's new reusable rocket aces key engine tests
By Andrew Jones published
China has made progress on a powerful rocket engine to power its new reusable rockets that are expected to launch the nation's planned crewed moon missions.
![a cube shaped satellite moves toward a spacecraft hovering above some snowy mountains on earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8jAiYEerzFne8VyvGrExzJ-320-80.jpg)
Private space-junk probe to conduct up-close inspection of spent rocket stage
By Andrew Jones published
The mission aims to assist the later removal of spunk junk, an issue that threatens the sustainable use of orbital space above the Earth.
![black and white image of the moon's cratered surface, with a blurry and distant earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L2LeLVJG4YXrAEyHFTu6KY-320-80.jpg)
China's experimental moon satellites beam back lunar imagery (video, photo)
By Andrew Jones published
A pair of small experimental satellites have begun tests related to future lunar communication and navigation services for China's moon ambitions.
![a tall white rocket with a red square near the top and chinese writing on the side, stands outside a hanger building beneath a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L3GRbyAHmzkTCdztMS2kYQ-320-80.jpg)
China rolls out rocket for next astronaut mission to Tiangong space station (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
Trio of astronauts will be the seventh to visit Tiangong.
![an orange crane sits above a large white building, surrounded by four towers of metal scaffolding](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3armnyroU4WPpkB8ttZcEC-320-80.jpg)
China putting finishing touches on seaside spaceport for commercial launches (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China is making progress on two new pads for commercial space launches from the island of Hainan.
![Still from an animation showing how China's main state-owned space contractor, CASC, plans to catch its reusable rockets after launch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eYiLB59HBzsr8u3WjwoR3P-320-80.jpg)
China plans to catch its reusable rockets with constricting wires (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's state-owned space contractor plans to catch its new reusable rockets with constricting wires, as a new video dramatically shows.
![two white aircraft joined together as one at the wing fly through a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qqm6atkj4RPXX82pZEC3oU-320-80.jpg)
Boeing files lawsuit against Virgin Galactic over development of new mothership aircraft
By Andrew Jones published
Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences are suing Virgin Galactic for unpaid work and trade secrets related to a new mothership aircraft for Virgin Galactic’s next-generation space planes.
![a small space plane comes in for a landing with brown hills in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy8SN6EY25yceVA684gCoj-320-80.jpg)
Watch India's prototype space plane ace a landing test (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully carried out a landing test with its prototype space plane last week.
![a plume of smoke rising from the ground culminates in a large explosion](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CexxE42ZgKDadHGDcG9qfX-320-80.jpg)
Japan's 1st commercial rocket explodes shortly after liftoff (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A Japanese company's first orbital launch attempt ended in a dramatic failure just seconds after liftoff on Wednesday, March 13.
![illustration of two satellites docking in orbit, with a field of stars in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/br6qu6tZKmLC5Q4kGwP4DE-320-80.jpg)
NASA cancels multibillion-dollar on-orbit satellite servicing mission
By Andrew Jones published
NASA has canceled the complex and costly OSAM-1 satellite-servicing demonstration mission.
![an astronaut in a spacesuit floats outside of a large white cylinder in space. earth can be seen in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N7VXVF9u5Tmjyv2dNCVU8G-320-80.jpg)
Watch Chinese astronauts fix Tiangong space station solar wing in 8-hour spacewalk (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A pair of Chinese astronauts spent eight hours outside their Tiangong Space Station last weekend to carry out repairs on solar arrays.
![a four-wheeled black cartoon rover stands on the surface of a planet hued in light browns. A starry night space scape is seen above with a satellite in the upper left.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kRhZGQgtSBqfHa2e7sFL56-320-80.jpg)
This little rover will ride shotgun on Japan's ambitious Mars moon sample-return mission
By Andrew Jones published
The small device will be headed on a long journey to the Red Planet's neighborhood.
![illustration of a rover and a lander on the surface of mars, with a small helicopter, a rocket and a satellite in the sky above them.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BRmR6J25JhBehfYTbwiHMJ-320-80.jpg)
Will NASA be able to return Mars samples to Earth? New audit raises doubts
By Andrew Jones published
NASA's bold plan to get pristine samples of Mars to Earth for analysis is facing major challenges, according to a new report.
![a white rocket launches at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/irHBkZkxGFGVTubwvgbGdg-320-80.jpg)
China to debut new Long March rockets in 2024
By Andrew Jones published
China will debut several new Long March rockets this year to boost its options for space launches.
![Artist's illustration of a Chinese astronaut on the moon, with a large white lander and the distant earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cTJYivq9mYM2y7WWZFSME7-320-80.jpg)
China names the spacecraft that will put its astronauts on the moon (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's human spaceflight agency has given names to spacecraft being developed to put astronauts on the moon: Mengzhou ("Dream Vessel") and Lanyue ("Embracing the Moon").
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