
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

The race back to the moon: What if China lands its astronauts first?
By Andrew Jones published
"The country that lands on the moon first will shape the rules of engagement in space for decades to come."

China shows off advanced hypersonic missiles, ICBMs and drones in military parade (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
Beijing's recent military parade unveiled new hypersonic and intercontinental missiles alongside stealth drones, highlighting China's expanding strike and defense capabilities

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will fly by Mars 1 month from now — and Europe's Red Planet orbiters will be ready
By Andrew Jones published
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will zoom past Mars in October 2025, and ESA's Mars orbiters will attempt to image and analyze the object during the encounter.

How magnets could help astronauts explore the moon and Mars
By Andrew Jones published
Magnetic fields can replace bulky centrifuges in space oxygen systems, making them lighter, more efficient and better suited for deep-space missions, a new study finds.

NASA's Psyche asteroid probe beams home haunting view of distant Earth (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, which is headed toward a big and bizarre metal asteroid, has delivered a stunning perspective of our home planet from deep space.

South Korea's K-RadCube radiation satellite will hitch a ride on NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission
By Andrew Jones published
South Korea's K-RadCube satellite has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of its launch toward the moon on the Artemis 2 mission next year.

1st Portuguese spaceport could soon emerge as nation grants license for launch center in the Azores (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
Portugal's space ambitions grow as Atlantic Spaceport Consortium secures approval to operate the nation's first launch center in the mid-Atlantic

NASA and Google test AI medical assistant for astronaut missions to the moon and Mars
By Andrew Jones published
Google and NASA are trialing an AI-powered medical assistant that could help astronauts care for themselves when mission control is out of reach.

Skyrora becomes 1st British company to get license to launch from the UK
By Andrew Jones published
Scotland-based Skyrora has received the first U.K.-issued vertical launch license for a homegrown company, enabling rocket launches from SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands.

Space junk cleanup tech that could 'shepherd' debris into Earth's atmosphere gets US patent
By Andrew Jones published
The Japanese space-sustainability company Astroscale has unveiled a patent for what it describes as a new method for space debris removal.

See Tianzhou 9 cargo mission dock at China's Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The Tianzhou 9 freighter arrived at China's Tiangong space station last week, packed with supplies. Watch its arrival in this video.

ESA selects 5 rocket companies for European Launcher Challenge
By Andrew Jones published
Germany's Isar and RFA, France's Maiaspace, Spain's PLD Space, and UK-based Orbex have been pre-selected for ESA's €169 million launcher initiative.

The Vera Rubin Observatory could find dozens of interstellar objects
By Andrew Jones published
As astronomers rush to study a newly discovered comet from beyond our solar system, a powerful new observatory may turn rare interstellar sightings into routine events.

Lunar lava tubes on Earth? China completes underground moon simulation test area (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China has taken a new step in its long-term planning for lunar exploration with the completion of a "simulated moon underground space."

China's Tianwen 2 asteroid-sampling probe snaps gorgeous shots of Earth and the moon (video, photos)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Tianwen 2 mission captured stunning views of Earth and the moon from deep space just days after launch.

Chinese company Landspace aims to debut its reusable methane rocket this year (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Landspace aims to debut its stainless steel Zhuque-3 rocket later this year, marking a bold step forward for China's commercial launch sector.

See interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS zoom through solar system in new telescope imagery (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The European Southern Observatory has captured the clearest images yet of the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS as it moves inward through the solar system.

Could NASA's Mars Sample Return be saved? Lockheed Martin proposes $3 billion plan to haul home Red Planet rocks (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new proposal to take over NASA's beleaguered Mars Sample Return mission for less than half the current cost while achieving key science goals.

2 Chinese spacecraft just met up 22,000 miles above Earth. What were they doing?
By Andrew Jones published
A new Chinese refueling spacecraft met up with an older satellite in high Earth orbit this month, apparently marking a step forward in orbital servicing.

Watch Honda launch (and land) its 1st reusable rocket in this wild video
By Andrew Jones published
The Japanese automaker Honda just hit a key milestone in rocket reusability with a near-bullseye landing during a vertical test flight in Hokkaido.

'I was a good, visible target': Jared Isaacman on why Trump pulled his NASA chief nomination
By Andrew Jones published
Jared Isaacman has opened up on why he believes his nomination to be NASA administrator was abruptly withdrawn by the White House.

China's Tianwen 2 spacecraft sends home 1st photo as it heads for mysterious 'quasi-moon' asteroid
By Andrew Jones published
China has revealed the first image from its Tianwen 2 asteroid sample return mission, which is now more than 3 million kilometers (1.9 million miles) from Earth.

Watch Japan's private ispace company attempt its 2nd moon landing on June 5
By Andrew Jones published
Tokyo-based ispace hopes to succeed where its 2023 mission fell short, with a new lander, new software and a new chance at lunar history.

What's landing on the moon with ispace's Resilience spacecraft on June 5?
By Andrew Jones last updated
Tokyo-based company ispace's Resilience lunar lander will attempt to touch down on the moon on Thursday (June 5). Here's what the spacecraft is carrying.

Europe wants to land a tiny spacecraft on the infamous asteroid Apophis in 2029
By Andrew Jones published
ESA is preparing a mission to study and land on asteroid Apophis during its close encounter with Earth in 2029. NASA is also looking into a possible Apophis effort but faces funding issues.
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