china space program

China reveals 3-person Shenzhou 23 crew, including Hong Kong's 1st astronaut

By Andrew Jones published 24 May 26

China has named the three astronauts due to fly on the Shenzhou 23 mission on Sunday (May 24), including Hong Kong's first astronaut.

Watch China launch Shenzhou 23 astronauts to its Tiangong space station on May 24

By Andrew Jones published 23 May 26

China's Shenzhou 23 mission to Tiangong will relieve an overdue crew and could see the beginning of the country's first year-long stay in orbit. Watch it live on Sunday (May 24).

Chinese astronaut conducts record-tying 6th spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published 18 March 26

Zhang Lu matched Chen Dong's tally of six spacewalks as he and crewmate Wu Fei completed a seven-hour excursion outside China's space station.

China's 1st moon astronauts could land in Rimae Bode, a 'geological museum' on the lunar near side

By Andrew Jones published 9 March 26

A new study highlights the volcanic Rimae Bode region as a scientifically promising destination for China's first crewed moon landing mission, which the nation wants to achieve by 2030.

China aces test of next-gen lunar capsule and rocket in effort to land humans on moon before NASA (video)

By Mike Wall published 11 February 26

China just took another step toward landing astronauts on the moon, acing a key abort test with its Mengzhou crew capsule and pulling off a soft splashdown with the returning rocket.

Can current space law handle the new space age?

By Andrew Jones published 9 February 26

A new proposal suggests borrowing the "Conference of the Parties" model from climate diplomacy to update space law before orbital congestion and lunar competition escalate.

China joins race to develop space-based data centers with 5-year plan

By Julian Dossett published 5 February 26

China will work on establishing space-based data centers as a part of a larger five-year plan to expand the nation's already significant presence in space.

Chinese space tourism startup eyes 2028 for 1st crewed mission, signs celebrity for future flight

By Andrew Jones published 31 January 26

InterstellOr is already taking bookings for its planned suborbital flights and says it has attracted its first celebrity passenger, highlighting China's growing commercial space ambitions.

NASA's Artemis 2 crewed mission to the moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China's closed program

By Michelle L.D. Hanlon published 29 January 26

The United States is no longer competing against a single rival in a largely symbolic race.

Chinese capsule damaged by space-junk strike returns to Earth (video)

By Leonard David published 21 January 26

The first emergency operation in the history of China's human spaceflight program ended on Jan. 19 when an uncrewed Shenzhou 20 capsule damaged by a space-junk strike came safely down to Earth.