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.

Related Topics: International Space Station, India Mars Orbiter Mission, Rocket Launches 

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The Shenzhou 14 crew capsule is seen on its side after landing to return three astronauts to Earth on Dec. 4, 2022 in the Dongfeng Landing field in Fuyang city, Anhui province, China.

China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts return to Earth after helping build Tiangong space station

By Andrew Jones published

China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts have handed over control of the Tiangong space station and returned to Earth.

China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts entered the Tiangong space station on June 5, 2022. From left to right: Cai Xuzhe, Chen Dong and Liu Yang.

China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts set to return to Earth on Sunday

By Andrew Jones published

Three astronauts who spent six months in space constructing China's new space station are set to return home on Sunday (Dec. 4).

China's Shenzhou 14 and 15 crews pose together aboard the Tiangong space station on Nov. 29, 2022.

China's Shenzhou 15 crew has busy 6 months ahead aboard Tiangong space station

By Andrew Jones published

The three astronauts about to take control of China's Tiangong space station have an action-packed six months ahead of them.

six chinese people in space wearing blue jump suits and making the thumbs-up sign

China has 6 astronauts in space for the 1st time

By Andrew Jones published

China currently has six astronauts in orbit for the first time as the country carries out a space station crew handover.

The construction site of the Solar Radio Telescope is seen on November 12, 2022 in Daocheng County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province of China.

China completes world's largest solar telescope array with a whopping 313 dishes

By Andrew Jones published

China has completed the construction of the Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope (DSRT), the world's largest array of telescopes dedicated to studying the sun and how its behavior affects Earth.

Hot-fire test of the YF-100N engine near Xi'an, north China, on Nov. 26, 2022.

China tests reusable rocket engine for the 1st time (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China has made a breakthrough in its quest to develop reusable launch vehicles like SpaceX’s Falcon 9.

China's Shenzhou 15 mission launches on Nov. 29

China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station for 1st crew handover

By Andrew Jones published

A Long March 2F rocket launched the three-person Shenzhou 15 mission toward the Tiangong space station today (Nov. 29) at 10:08 a.m. EST (1508 GMT).

Launch of the third group of Yaogan 36 satellites from Xichang spaceport on Nov. 27, 2022.

China sends new trio of mysterious spy satellites into orbit

By Andrew Jones published

China's latest launch on Sunday (Nov. 27) put three new secretive Yaogan spy satellites into orbit as questions arise about their purpose.

Shenzhou 15 and its Long March 2F rocket on the pad at Jiuquan spaceport on Nov. 21, 2022.

Watch China launch Shenzhou 15 astronauts to Tiangong space station today

By Mike Wall last updated

China is poised to launch three astronauts to its Tiangong space station on Tuesday morning (Nov. 29), and you can watch the action live.

Commander Fei Junlong (center), Zhang Lu (left) and Deng Qingming (right) at a Shenzhou 15 pre-launch press conference at Jiuquan on Nov. 28, 2022.

China reveals the 3 astronauts flying on Shenzhou 15 space station mission

By Andrew Jones published

China just unveiled the crew that will launch on its Shenzhou 15 mission on Tuesday (Nov. 29) and spend the next six months in space.

An image of a solar flare captured by the HXI instrument aboard China's ASO-S spacecraft on Nov. 11, 2022.

China's new solar probe snaps its 1st image of the sun (photo)

By Andrew Jones published

China's recently launched Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S) has returned its first image, showing an M-class flare erupting on the sun.

multicolored circular shape against black background

China tests novel 'lobster eye' X-ray telescope for observing cosmic events

By Andrew Jones published

A novel "lobster eye" telescope aboard a small Chinese satellite has delivered its first images, paving the way for more complex future missions using its technology.

Shenzhou 15 and its Long March 2F rocket on the pad at Jiuquan spaceport on Nov. 21, 2022.

China rolls out rocket to launch new crew to newly-completed space station

By Andrew Jones published

China is gearing up to send a new crew up to the newly-completed space station on the Shenzhou 15 mission.

Shenzhou 14 astronauts Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe performed a spacewalk outside China's Tiangong space station on Nov. 16-17, 2022.

China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts complete their 3rd and final spacewalk (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts just conducted a spacewalk to carry out work on the newly arrived Mengtian space station module.

rocket blasts off atop a white plume with blue sky behind

China launches mysterious Earth observation satellites

By Elizabeth Howell published

China launched its 53rd rocket of 2022 on Wednesday (Nov. 16), bringing it three launches shy of tying the record 56 liftoffs the country set last year.

China's Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft approaches the Tiangong space station for docking on Nov. 11, 2022.

Chinese astronauts enter newly arrived cargo spacecraft at Tiangong space station

By Andrew Jones published

China's Shenzhou 14 astronauts have opened up and entered the Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft after its docking at the country's newly completed space station.

A Long March 6A rocket on the pad at Taiyuan spaceport in November 2022, ahead of launch of the Yunhai 3 satellite.

Chinese rocket body breaks up in orbit after successful satellite launch

By Andrew Jones published

A Chinese rocket body broke up in orbit after launching on Friday (Nov. 11) and is now in more than 50 pieces, adding to the threat of space debris in Earth orbit.

NASA's Orion spacecraft looked back at Earth on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022 using a camera mounted on one of its solar arrays. The uncrewed capsule flew past the record distance from Earth set by the 1970 Apollo 13 command module two days later.

The top space stories of the week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

The Andromeda galaxy has a history of galactic "cannibalism," the James Webb Space Telescope beholds Saturn's moon Titan and Artemis 1 is officially coming back to Earth. These are some of this week's top stories.

A Chinese Long March 7 rocket launches with big plume surrounded by lightning towers.

China launches Tianzhou 5 cargo ship to Tiangong space station

By Andrew Jones last updated

China has launched a new cargo spacecraft to its newly completed Tiangong space station in preparation for a new crewed mission.

A stainless steel propellant tank produced by Chinese launch startup Space Epoch.

Mini Starship? Chinese startup wants to make its own version of SpaceX Mars rocket

By Andrew Jones published

A new Chinese startup is attempting to develop its own reusable stainless-steel rockets, apparently taking inspiration from SpaceX's next-generation Starship vehicle.