china space program
Latest about china space program
![an illustration of a Chinese moon base](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wieXfhDBcrB3zZvua9LZpJ-320-80.jpg)
China moving at 'breathtaking speed' in final frontier, Space Force says
By Mike Wall published
China is ratcheting up its space capabilities at an impressive clip, with an eye toward potentially ending the United States’ long-held space supremacy, U.S. officials say.
![an orange crane sits above a large white building, surrounded by four towers of metal scaffolding](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3armnyroU4WPpkB8ttZcEC-320-80.jpg)
China putting finishing touches on seaside spaceport for commercial launches (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China is making progress on two new pads for commercial space launches from the island of Hainan.
![Still from an animation showing how China's main state-owned space contractor, CASC, plans to catch its reusable rockets after launch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eYiLB59HBzsr8u3WjwoR3P-320-80.jpg)
China plans to catch its reusable rockets with constricting wires (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's state-owned space contractor plans to catch its new reusable rockets with constricting wires, as a new video dramatically shows.
![a rocket launches from sea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JPbvzoTpobhpCk8maegSLT-320-80.jpg)
China will launch giant, reusable rockets next year to prep for human missions to the moon
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
China's new jumbo-size, reusable rockets are part of the country's plans to send humans to the moon by 2030.
![a white rocket launches at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/irHBkZkxGFGVTubwvgbGdg-320-80.jpg)
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.
![Artist's illustration of a Chinese astronaut on the moon, with a large white lander and the distant earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cTJYivq9mYM2y7WWZFSME7-320-80.jpg)
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").
![China's Smart Dragon-3 solid rocket launches nine satellites from a ship at sea on Feb. 2, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ejsXTxyRa68CBAbvESEv6e-320-80.jpg)
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.
![The Chang'e 5 return capsule at its landing site in Inner Mongolia, China, on Dec. 17, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iM5SaM84vTYSqzThckmBsG-320-80.jpg)
China's Chang'e-5 moon samples contain 'perplexing combination' of minerals
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
China's Chang'e-5 moon samples are giving scientists new insights into the history of our moon.
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