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
![view from a chinese long march 3b rocket looking up at its deployed parachute against a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XzhNgvUffLLLyjiCahUXxE-320-80.jpeg)
New parachute system could ease some of China's rocket-debris issues (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A new parachute system could reduce the risk posed by Chinese satellite launches from inland spaceports.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YNv2x4Whi42jvPo7QPQf9N-320-80.jpeg)
See latest configuration of China's Tiangong space station in stunning new video
By Andrew Jones published
New footage released by China's human spaceflight agency shows the Tiangong space station in its new configuration following a series of arrivals to and departures from the orbital outpost.
![a silver missile flying through the air at sunset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/F7nK6Ypt4mhf9Kj3ahAqEa-320-80.jpg)
New Pentagon-funded hypersonic test vehicle could fly in summer 2024
By Andrew Jones published
A new experimental hypersonic cruise vehicle could be flying as soon as next summer under an initiative from the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit.
![black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches from florida](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rCfbZYoog5LPB7otPWVKzX-320-80.jpeg)
Pentagon confirms it's buying SpaceX Starlink services for Ukraine
By Andrew Jones published
The Pentagon has confirmed it is buying SpaceX's Starlink broadband services to provide communications in Ukraine.
![Luna 25 spacecraft](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pZCDoDnexqRskdnhDT8UAY-320-80.jpeg)
Russia delays launch of Luna 25 moon lander until August
By Andrew Jones published
The launch of Russia's robotic Luna 25 moon lander has been postponed from July 13 and will now lift off no earlier than August.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 V2 mini Starlink satellites launches into the blue Florida sky from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 4, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nD5vaS6mVbHjhi4pNpv4E4-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink 'V2 mini' satellites into orbit, lands rocket at sea (video)
By Andrew Jones last updated
SpaceX launched a fleet of new Starlink internet satellites into orbit early Sunday (June 4), kicking off the first of a space launch doubleheader from Florida.
![Chinese astronaut waves and smiles in reclined position with landed space capsule in background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CTQ5aF9QPZ6o2mMyW4q4mB-320-80.jpg)
China's Shenzhou 15 capsule lands safely with 3 Tiangong space station astronauts (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts returned to Earth with a smooth and safe weekend landing after completing a six-month mission to the country's space station.
![The Shenzhou 15 crew inside the cabin during launch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cJ5L3xxJyY3u6jWzD9YNVV-320-80.png)
Watch China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts return to Earth this weekend (video)
By Andrew Jones published
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 15 mission returned to Earth on Sunday (June 4) after six months aboard the Tiangong space station.
![A Spanish official seated at a table signs the Artemis Accords while NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and two other people look on.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dhwdpDLftY7u56aR9isGMo-320-80.jpeg)
Spain signs the Artemis Accords for peaceful moon exploration
By Andrew Jones published
Spain has signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 25th nation to join the framework that aims to foster responsible and peaceful international exploration of the moon.
![two chinese astronauts hugging aboard the tiangong space station while a third crewmate looks on in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4Vx8bUNEEC7cCtnMFs27VW-320-80.jpeg)
Watch China's Shenzhou 16 astronauts enter Tiangong space station (video)
By Andrew Jones published
A new video shows the three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 16 mission entering the Tiangong space station on Tuesday (May 30).
![illustration of a spacecraft with two wing-like solar panels extended from a gold, cube-shaped body.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gLHmERx4YRRfhmURAySn68-320-80.jpg)
Europe's JUICE Jupiter probe finishes deploying its instruments
By Andrew Jones published
Europe's JUICE spacecraft is now in its full flight configuration, six weeks after the flagship mission launched for Jupiter.
![A Chinese Long March 2f rocket launches into space carrying 3 Shenzhou 16 astronauts](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vkdJxJoCtew2F8iswZSgz7-320-80.jpg)
China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station on Shenzhou 16 spacecraft (video)
By Andrew Jones last updated
China's next crew of three astronauts is all set to launch for the country's Tiangong space station tonight (May 29) on a Long March 2F rocket and you can watch it live.
![a large orange rocket on a launch pad at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/i5uU7YtXgnAyaN8kjpSNYN-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Artemis moon rocket will cost $6 billion more than planned: report
By Andrew Jones published
An independent report into NASA contracts for the SLS rocket has found significant cost overruns and delays which could hinder the agency's plans to put astronauts back on the moon.
![The Hakuto-R private Japanese moon lander’s impact site, as seen by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on April 26, 2023, the day after the attempted touchdown.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yZZL5vgrpYAM7fyhtPQ9US-320-80.jpeg)
Moon crash site found! NASA orbiter spots grave of private Japanese lander (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has spotted the final resting place of a private Japanese moon lander that failed in its touchdown attempt last month.
![South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter flew 18 kilometers above the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on April 7, 2023, enabling ShadowCam to capture this dramatic image of LRO.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/22Ctecu4t8HUqSCWc2M5NE-320-80.jpeg)
South Korean moon probe snaps picture of NASA's powerful lunar orbiter (photo)
By Andrew Jones published
The ShadowCam imager aboard South Korea's Danuri moon orbiter recently captured a photo of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter as the two spacecraft zipped past each other.
![An artist's illustration of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the main destination of the United Arab Emirates' second interplanetary mission.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jAdu3siRGYy5MR86H236PR-320-80.jpg)
UAE's ambitious asteroid mission will tour 7 space rocks
By Andrew Jones published
The United Arab Emirates is targeting seven different space rocks with its ambitious mission to the main asteroid belt.
![China conducts an engine hot-fire test at its new facility in Tongchuan, in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, on April 24, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qTpK4v2FT4njfpBDnbD7ub-320-80.jpeg)
Watch China break in new test site for giant moon rocket engines (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China has completed a stand for testing huge rocket engines that could power the country's moon exploration efforts.
![The crater-riddled far side of the moon, as seen by NASA's Orion spacecraft during the Artemis 1 mission in late 2022. China plans to launch a relay satellite in early 2024 to facilitate communications with spacecraft on the lunar far side.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G9kYs3VVb7NYZPnPET7efg-320-80.jpg)
China to launch communications relay satellite to the moon in early 2024
By Andrew Jones published
Queqiao 2 ('Magpie Bridge 2') will launch early next year and will be used to support China's upcoming Chang'e 6, 7 and 8 robotic moon missions.
![China has built a simulated moon chamber to help prepare for crewed lunar landings, which the nation hopes to achieve by 2030.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h3NHxbzy2PhXow9uTNPw4j-320-80.jpeg)
China builds simulated moon chamber to prep for crewed lunar landings (video)
By Andrew Jones published
Chinese scientists have built a chamber to simulate the conditions on the surface of the moon to help prepare the country for future crewed lunar exploration.
![Liftoff of the second Ceres-1 solid rocket from Jiuquan in the Gobi Desert, Dec. 7, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gJNAfxLycdcziVEyDRPrGe-320-80.jpg)
Chinese startup aims to debut new reusable rocket next year
By Andrew Jones published
The Chinese launch startup Galactic Energy is making moves toward launching Pallas 1, its small Falcon 9-like rocket.
![a series of ridges on the lunar surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m94pu2cuafwsaYhtECvFHK-320-80.jpg)
See the moon in epic detail in stunning images taken by South Korea's lunar orbiter (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), also known as Danuri, arrived in low lunar orbit in mid-December and has already returned a series of impressive images.
![Researchers have generated a global map of Mars using data from China's Tianwen 1 orbiter.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ssR4jKtGqajs5s8Qu9Sp9a-320-80.jpeg)
China's Tianwen 1 orbiter produces global map of Mars (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's space authorities have released a series of global images of Mars produced from data gathered by the country's first interplanetary mission, Tianwen 1.
![An artist's illustration of Arianespace's new Ariane 6 rocket at its launch site at Europe's Spaceport in in Kourou, French Guiana. The powerful, expendable rocket has yet to fly.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vykw3RJZk2AQ2bb5WsCbcK-320-80.jpg)
Europe won't have reusable rockets for another decade: report
By Andrew Jones published
The CEO of France-based launch company Arianespace says Europe will have to wait until the 2030s for a reusable rocket.