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
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.
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.
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.
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").
India unveils astronauts for 1st human spaceflight mission in 2025
By Andrew Jones published
India has revealed a shortlist of air force pilots who will fly on the country's first human spaceflight mission, which is targeted for 2025.
Radar images reveal damage on Europe's doomed ERS-2 satellite during final orbits
By Andrew Jones published
As Europe's ERS-2 satellite tumbled through the sky, radar images picked up some of the damage it experienced during its final moments.
India plans to include a helicopter on its next Mars mission
By Andrew Jones published
India's next Mars mission may include a helicopter that follows in the footsteps of NASA's pioneering Ingenuity drone.
Here's what just landed on the moon aboard Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander
By Andrew Jones last updated
Intuitive Machines' lander, named Odysseus, will try today (Feb. 22) to become the first private spacecraft ever to touch down softly on the moon. But what is the lander carrying?
NASA's new UVEX mission will explore the ultraviolet universe
By Andrew Jones published
NASA's UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX) spacecraft will launch in 2030 to conduct an all-sky survey in ultraviolet light to bring new understanding of how stars and galaxies evolve.
Uruguay signs Artemis Accords for responsible space exploration
By Andrew Jones published
Uruguay has joined the Artemis Accords, the United States' effort to establish widespread principles to guide space exploration.
China eyes May 2024 launch for 1st-ever lunar sample-return mission to moon's far side
By Andrew Jones published
Chang'e-6 is expected to launch in May 2024 and touch down on the moon's far side to collect samples of lunar material to be returned to Earth for study.
China wants to send plants, microbes and lunar resource experiments to the moon in 2028
By Andrew Jones published
China's Chang'e 8 moon mission, which is targeted to launch no earlier than 2028, will carry a small ecosystem and other payloads to test using lunar resources.
Watch NASA unfurl basketball-court-sized solar sail for deep space propulsion (video)
By Andrew Jones published
NASA and Redwire Space successfully deployed a massive solar sail in a test, potentially paving the way for this revolutionary propulsion technology to be used for deep space transportation.
Watch China launch Smart Dragon-3 rocket from the sea (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China just aced its 10th sea launch, using a specially converted floating barge and a solid rocket called Smart Dragon-3.
Greece signs Artemis Accords for responsible moon exploration
By Andrew Jones published
Greece just became the 35th country to sign the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led framework for peaceful and responsible moon exploration.
Intuitive Machines moon lander to carry tiny NASA cameras to study lunar surface (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander is set to launch next week carrying a special set of 'eyes' to track how the spacecraft's engine plume interacts with the lunar surface.
Nuclear power on the moon: NASA wraps up 1st phase of ambitious reactor project
By Andrew Jones published
NASA is wrapping up the design phase of a project to develop concepts for a small, electricity-generating nuclear fission reactor for use on the moon.
Chinese company's reusable rocket prototype aces launch-and-landing test (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
The Chinese company Expace pulled off a brief launch and landing test with a rocket prototype last month, as it aims to build a reusable launch vehicle.
Japan's SLIM moon lander snaps final photos before going dormant during lunar night
By Andrew Jones published
Japan's historic SLIM moon lander has powered down ahead of a likely mission-ending cold lunar nighttime — but not before grabbing some final images and loads of science data.
China puts models of its future crewed moon landing spacecraft on display (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China is displaying models of the rockets and spacecraft it is developing to send its astronauts to the moon six years or so from now.
1,000 days in space! Core module of China's Tiangong space station hits milestone
By Andrew Jones published
The core module of China's Tiangong space station — named Tianhe, or "Harmony of the Heavens" — has now been orbiting Earth for more than 1,000 days.
China sends human bone cells to Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A Chinese space freighter has delivered human bone cells to the Tiangong space station for on-orbit research that could help people here on Earth.
NASA Juno spacecraft picks up hints of activity on Jupiter's icy moon Europa
By Andrew Jones published
NASA's Juno probe made a close approach of Jupiter's moon Europa, finding possible proof of present day surface activity.
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