China Space Program

China became the third country ever to launch a human into space in 2003 and has been expanding its space program ever since. Get the latest news about China's space program, launches and space missions.

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A Chinese Aerospace Corporation image shows the Long March 5b's launch from Wenchang launch center May 5.

Massive piece of Chinese space junk slams uncontrolled into Earth's atmosphere

By Rafi Letzter

The 19.6 ton (17,800 kilogram) body of a Chinese rocket slammed into the planet's atmosphere today (May 11). It was the biggest such incident since 1991.

A Chinese Kuaizhou-1A rocket launched on May 12 carrying two satellites to support the so-called Internet of Things.

Chinese Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches 2 satellites for the 'Internet of Things'

By Meghan Bartels

China launched the first two satellites in a new constellation that will support internet-connected objects today (May 12).

China's new crew capsule comes in for landing in this undated photo. The capsule made its first landing from space in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on May 8, 2020.

China's new space capsule lands safely to end 1st uncrewed test flight

By Meghan Bartels

China's next-generation crew capsule successfully returned to Earth today (May 8) after nearly three days in orbit.

An artist's illustration of China's next-generation space capsule for astronauts in orbit.

China's next-generation space capsule aces orbital maneuvers during test flight

By Tariq Malik

China's next-generation spacecraft for astronauts has aced a series of maneuvers in orbit two days into its maiden voyage.

China's first Long March 5B rocket launches the country's next-generation space capsule into orbit on an uncrewed test flight from Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island in southern China on May 5, 2020.

China launches next-generation space capsule on Long March 5B rocket test flight

By Meghan Bartels

China launched a new space capsule into orbit Tuesday (May 5) on the debut test flight of a Long March 5B rocket that will carry the country's planned space station.

China reveals name, logo for its 'Tianwen' 1st Mars landing mission

By Robert Z. Pearlman

China revealed the name and logo for its first mission aimed at landing on the planet Mars to mark the 50th anniversary of its first satellite launch.

The moon, as seen by the United States' Clementine spacecraft in 1994.

China wants a piece of the moon. Here's how it plans to handle lunar samples.

By Leonard David

A glimpse into China's readiness to handle samples from the moon reveals steps to be taken for storage, processing and preparation of the specimens.

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket failed to launch the Indonesian Nusantara Dua communications satellite successfully on April 8, 2020. Shown here, a similar rocket lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on March 9.

Chinese Long March 3B rocket fails during launch of Indonesian satellite

By Tariq Malik

It's the second Chinese rocket failure in a month.

A Chinese Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches six satellites into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center just six hours after a different Kuaizhou-1A launched a separate mission.

Chinese rocket sells for $5.6 million in livestreamed auction: report

By Chelsea Gohd

An anonymous patron purchased a real-life rocket for $5.6 million during an online, livestreamed auction on April Fools Day.

The docking system of the prototype Chinese next-generation crewed spacecraft.

China's new crew spacecraft looks like it could dock with the International Space Station

By Andrew Jones

A next-generation crew spacecraft that China is preparing for a flight test this spring appears to be capable of docking with the International Space Station.

China’s Chang’e 4 lander and Yutu 2 rover, photographed by each other.

Are China's moon missions a threat to the US? Space experts don't think so

By Elizabeth Howell

U.S. fears that China could set up a moon base for spying do not line up with the country's statements about its space program, according to security experts.

A Chinese Long March 2C rocket lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying three Yaogan surveillance satellites into orbit, on March 24, 2020.

China's Long March 2C rocket launches military surveillance satellites into orbit

By Hanneke Weitering

China successfully launched three new military surveillance satellites into orbit on a Long March 2C rocket today (March 24).

China's Chang'e 4 lander and rover awake once more on far side of the moon

By Andrew Jones

China's Chang'e 4 mission has started its 16th lunar day of work on the far side of the moon, with the Yutu 2 rover beginning a journey in search of new areas.

China's first Long March 7 rocket rolls out to its launchpad in June 2016. The debut launch of a new variant, the Long March 7A, apparently failed on March 16, 2020.

China's new Long March 7A rocket fails in debut launch: reports

By Mike Wall

The next-gen Long March 7A booster failed today (March 16) on its debut mission, which aimed to loft a classified satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The "Eye of Africa" is visible near the top right of this image, which was taken by a camera based on the 108-megapixel camera in Xiaomi’s M10 Pro smartphone.

Chinese smartphone camera photographs Earth from space

By Andrew Jones

Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi went above and beyond to advertise its latest smartphone, sending the device's 100-megapixel camera into space.

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on March 9, 2020, carrying the 54th satellite of China's Beidou navigation system into orbit.

China's new navigation system is nearly complete with penultimate Beidou satellite launch

By Elizabeth Howell

The Chinese Beidou satellite navigation system is almost finished, thanks to the launch of a new satellite this week.

Masked employees welcome a Long March 5B rocket to the Wenchang spaceport in February 2020. The booster is scheduled to launch a Chinese orbiter and rover to Mars in July 2020.

China's Mars mission likely still on track for July launch despite coronavirus outbreak

By Andrew Jones

Despite the lack of official comment on the mission, China’s first expedition to Mars appears to be on track.

China's Yutu 2 moon rover looks back on its own tracks.

China's Chang'e 4 lander and rover complete 15th lunar day on moon's far side

By Andrew Jones

China's Chang'e 4 mission has completed its 15th lunar day of work on the far side of the moon.

China's Yutu 2 rover, as seen by the Chang'e 4 lander on the far side of the moon.

Chinese moon rover peers beneath surface of mysterious lunar far side

By Mike Wall

The first published data from the Yutu 2 rover's ground-penetrating radar instrument reveal the layered structure beneath the gray dirt of Von Kármán Crater's floor.

A rock spotted by China's Yutu 2 moon rover, with the robot's tracks also visible.

On the far side of the moon, Chinese lander and rover begin 15th lunar day

By Andrew Jones

China's Chang'e 4 mission has entered its 15th lunar day of work on the far side of the moon, with both the lander and Yutu 2 rover still in good condition.

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