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 golden rover and dark-colored lander sit on the red martian surface, with a dusty reddish-brown sky in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GMVAe7JYj3HbnRcpK3wvFF-320-80.jpg)
Chinese scientists build model Mars atmosphere to aid sample-return plans
By Andrew Jones published
Chinese scientists have constructed a numerical model to simulate the Martian atmosphere and thus assist the country's plans to return rock samples from the Red Planet.
![a white spacecraft is seen through the window of a space station, with earth in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cDu63TRGLijSYZemTKo4wS-320-80.jpg)
China's youngest space station crew send home spectacular views from space (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Shenzhou 17 astronauts are getting into the rhythms of life in orbit — and also sending back some choice clips of their activities.
![circular patch for China's robotic Tianzhou 7 cargo mission, showing a cartoon white spacecraft with a t-shaped space station in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BNfGuxAxGE4fsS3PF9Xxvh-320-80.jpeg)
China's next cargo spacecraft arrives at launch site ahead of early 2024 liftoff
By Andrew Jones published
The robotic Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft arrived recently at China's coastal Wenchang Satellite Launch Center ahead of an early 2024 launch on a Long March 7 rocket.
![Illustration of a small, four-wheeled silver rover against a foggy, gray-black background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/biteVbiKqfnwoagZtqKt3f-320-80.jpg)
Japan's ispace unveils micro rover for its 2nd moon mission
By Andrew Jones published
Tokyo-based spaceflight company ispace just unveiled a mini rover that will fly on its next moon landing mission next year.
![A sleek hypersonic vehicle streaking through the clouds](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d8RB7Q97pNgzfwHDrrUwG5-320-80.jpg)
US military taps Rocket Lab to launch hypersonic test vehicle in 2025
By Andrew Jones published
Rocket Lab will launch a drone on its suborbital launch vehicle as part of a U.S. Defense Department hypersonic development project.
![NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, and Minister of Innovation and Growth for Bulgaria, Milena Stoycheva, pose for a photo during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ntxauKGHCQ3h5HY2EZ3vXf-320-80.jpg)
Bulgaria signs Artemis Accords for peaceful moon exploration
By Andrew Jones published
Bulgaria became the 32nd nation to sign the Artemis Accords in a signing ceremony Nov. 9 with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Milena Stoycheva, Bulgaria's minister of innovation and growth.
![Los Alamos National Laboratory's concept of a space nuclear reactor system to produce high-power electricity.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UVyEoMG7ZWenTTf94GVvfX-320-80.jpg)
US military gives Lockheed Martin $33.7 million to develop nuclear spacecraft
By Andrew Jones published
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory just awarded $33.7 million to Lockheed Martin to help 'mature high-power nuclear electric power and propulsion technologies and spacecraft design.'
![A solar electric propulsion thruster emits the blue hue of Xenon gas during testing. Vibrant blue light emanates in a circular shape from the dark grey thruster, which is mounted inside a vacuum chamber. The blue light then narrows into a plume as it moves farther away from the thruster, illuminating the otherwise darkened chamber.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TAduBE6Z8ePphvhn8GfUDo-320-80.jpg)
Powerful new thrusters for NASA's moon-orbiting Gateway space station get a test (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
The propulsion system for NASA's planned moon-orbiting Gateway space station has been undergoing qualification testing at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
![two cubesats sit on a table, gloved hands can be seen working on the farther.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uAUrBp8VTjEYDL8eUK6hZK-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX will launch Ireland's 1st-ever satellite this month
By Andrew Jones published
EIRSAT-1, a student-led gamma-ray astronomy cubesat, is due to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the end of November.
![The miniature robotic arm inside China's Tiangong space station helps astronauts with science experiments and other activities.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NVbxfpQWTxpKbvbgWtvzVS-320-80.jpeg)
Surprise! China's space station has a 3rd, mini robotic arm. Watch it in action (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Inside the Tiangong space station's Mengtian experiment module, there's a small, dextrous arm that can assist astronauts' everyday activities, Chinese broadcaster CCTV revealed.
![The SpaceX Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship will undock from the International Space Station's space-facing docking port on the Harmony module on Jan. 22, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GCr4hbsfpMU4s9RWSCeZsh-320-80.jpg)
Europe wants a private cargo spacecraft by 2028
By Andrew Jones published
The European Space Agency is looking to change the way it approaches space exploration and foster a commercial cargo return capability within five years.
![a white rocket launches into a dark night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RkACQPHzvngQ4GiynSGeZh-320-80.jpeg)
China launches mystery satellite on Long March 7A rocket (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
China launched what it describes as a communications technology satellite on Nov. 3. The craft is part of the TJS series, which may be a cover name for satellites for a range of different uses.
![Artist's illustration of Japan's DESTINY+ asteroid probe in space, with earth in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9iThrXeXxMgi4tznQTed9M-320-80.jpeg)
Japan's mission to bizarre asteroid Phaethon delayed to 2025
By Andrew Jones published
Japan's DESTINY+ mission to 3200 Phaethon, the parent body of the famous Geminid meteor shower, will have to wait a bit longer to get off the ground.
![a brownish space capsule with a red-and-white-striped parachute descends through a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7xGB8Zf2yWxKmFAQtGwU8a-320-80.jpg)
China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts apparently landed with a ripped parachute (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts landed safely on Earth this week despite an apparent hole appearing in their return capsule's parachute.
![An illustration of the private Nova-C moon lander built by Intuitive Machines with NASA's Polar Resources Ice-Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) attached to the spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JfK3j9qJa3Xe5xnD3cniY7-320-80.jpg)
Intuitive Machines private moon lander launch set for January 2024
By Andrew Jones published
Intuitive Machines' lunar landing mission is again delayed two months to January 2024, but its Nova-C moon lander is ready to go.
![a rocket lifts off at sunset above a plume of fire](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rPpKUNYCZn9VNHexh6MLd7-320-80.jpg)
Watch China launch pair of Earth-mapping satellites on its 50th launch of 2023 (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A Long March 6A rocket lifted off carrying two Tianhui-5 Earth-mapping satellites on Nov. 1, marking China's 50th launch of the year.
![Illustration showing a small robotic probe nearing Venus, with the blackness of space in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TN6CcYkLwE5p92xUQmPg3B-320-80.jpeg)
Rocket Lab targets late 2024 for private Venus mission launch
By Andrew Jones published
Rocket Lab's mission to Venus, which aims to investigate the potential for life high in the planet's atmosphere, could launch as soon as Dec. 30, 2024.
![Artist's illustration of space junk orbiting Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/naQtry7CedNEFLbjen6Rqe-320-80.jpg)
Satellite companies may be starting to take the fight against space junk seriously
By Andrew Jones published
French startup ThrustMe just announced a jump in orders for its in-space propulsion systems, which could indicate a shift toward a more sustainable space environment.
![China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts hand control of the Tiangong space station over to the Shenzhou 17 crew on Oct. 29, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XvUiU37dDdcWaSeNnGRJAc-320-80.jpg)
China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts hand over Tiangong space station to new crew (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The departing Shenzhou 16 astronauts handed over control of the Tiangong space station to the newly arrived Shenzhou 17 crew during a short ceremony on Sunday (Oct. 29).
![a dark-brown capsule descends through a blue sky beneath a red and white striped parachute.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FcANXbGu6m6sWSJrrfyBTD-320-80.jpg)
China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts land safely after 5 months aboard Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 16 mission returned to Earth on Monday (Oct. 30) after a five-month stint aboard the country's Tiangong space station.
![Diagram of message-sending from Vienna to Beijing through space-ground integrated quantum network using China's Micius satellite, which launched in 2016.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fTj4kceNR5xK48Q2Rgvu6B-320-80.jpg)
China plans to take 'hack-proof' quantum satellite technology to new heights
By Andrew Jones published
China launched the first-ever dedicated quantum communications satellite to low Earth orbit in 2016. The nation is now working to send a quantum craft to a higher altitude.
![closeup of lettuce growing inside a white-walled module of China's space station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hZ7y4N5eYd3yso4GTNT87P-320-80.jpg)
China's astronauts grow vegetables in orbit, with an eye on deep space exploration
By Andrew Jones published
China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts have been growing vegetables aboard the Tiangong space station, as part of plans for future deep space exploration.
![seven smiling people in dark shirts float inside the white-walled international space station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2eRVqD28Ls5cjYq6XwkrbX-320-80.jpg)
UK Space Agency signs deal with Axiom Space for human spaceflight mission
By Andrew Jones published
The U.K. Space Agency and Axiom Space have inked a deal that could see U.K. astronauts embark on a two-week mission to the International Space Station in the near future.
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