china space program

Latest about china space program

illustration of a base on the moon, with a rocket launching in the background

Building blocks: How China plans to make bricks on the moon for lunar habitats

By Andrew Jones published

Chinese scientists are developing the capability to build a moon base made of bricks formed from lunar soil.

Human Spaceflight
earth rising below a black space sky, with the docking hatch of a spacecraft in the foreground.

China's Tianzhou 7 spacecraft burns up in Earth's atmosphere to end cargo mission (video)

By Andrew Jones published

The Tianzhou 7 spacecraft undocked from China's Tiangong space station on Nov. 10 and reentered Earth's atmosphere at around 8:25 a.m. EST (1325 GMT) on Nov. 17.

Human Spaceflight
closeup of a silver and gold spacecraft on the surface of the moon

Humanoid robot may fly on China's Chang'e 8 moon mission in 2028

By Andrew Jones published

China's Chang'e 8 mission to test resource technologies at the moon's south pole is taking shape — and may even include a humanoid form.

The moon
China and the U.S. both have big plans for the Moon, but there are a number of reasons why no country could actually claim ownership of any land there.

The US is now at risk of losing to China in the race to send people back to the Moon’s surface

By Jacco van Loon published

In all, 12 Americans landed on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Now, both the US and China are preparing to send humans back there this decade.

Human Spaceflight
a large rocket launches into a dawn sky from a seaside pad

China planning to build its own version of SpaceX's Starship

By Mike Wall published

China aims to develop its own reusable megarocket over the coming decade, and it will look a lot like SpaceX's Starship vehicle.

Launches & Spacecraft
An illustration shows the Einstein Probe as it hunts cosmic X-rays.

Sharp 'lobster vision:' China's Einstein Probe space telescope already making discoveries during commissioning phase

By Andrew Jones published

China's Einstein Probe, an X-ray telescope in Earth orbit, has already made several discoveries during its initial commissioning phase.

Missions
China's Shenzhou 18 spacecraft with astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu is seen at the Dongfeng landing site in north China after landing from the Tiangong space station on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

China's Shenzhou 18 astronauts return to Earth after 6 months in space (video)

By Andrew Jones last updated

China's Shenzhou 18 crew have returned home after more than six months in space.

Launches & Spacecraft
six astronauts in blue jumpsuits crowd around a table in a bright spacecraft. two across from one another each sign documents.

China's Shenzhou 19 astronauts take the reins of Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China's three-person Shenzhou 18 crew have passed the keys to the Tiangong space station to its new occupants.

Human Spaceflight
A white rocket launches next to a green tower at night, fire shooting from its bottom, a smoke plume blowing to the right.

China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station on Shenzhou 19 mission (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China launched the Shenzhou 19 mission to orbit today (Oct. 29), sending three astronauts toward the nation's Tiangong space station for a six-month stay.

Launches & Spacecraft
artist's illustration of Chinese space station Tiangong above Earth in the background.

China wants to make its Tiangong space station bigger and better

By Andrew Jones published

China has been operating its completed Tiangong space station for almost two years and is now looking to expand its capabilities with new modules and spacecraft.

Human Spaceflight
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