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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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China's Chang'e-4 lander as seen on the moon in a photograph released on July 9.

China's Chang'e-4 Rover Keeps Snapping Stunning Photos of the Moon's Far Side

By Meghan Bartels

China's Chang'e-4 mission has completed eight full days of science work on the far side of the moon — and in between the experiments, the lander and rover have sent home some new photographs, too.

LinkSpace's RLV-T5 rocket prototype nears its landing pad during an April 19, 2019 test flight. The company is pursuing vertical launch vertical landing technology for space missions.

LinkSpace Reusable Rocket Prototype Makes Its Highest Flight Yet (And Lands, Too!)

By Tariq Malik

The Chinese company LinkSpace successfully flew a rocket prototype on its highest flight yet, then nailed the landing as the firm pursues reusable spaceflight technology.

Footage from China Central Television shows grid fins on a Long March 2C rocket that launched in July 2019.

See China's Cool New Rocket Fins in Action!

By Elizabeth Howell

They may look like waffle-makers, but China's new rocket fins are cooking up something even more special: the ability to guide rockets to a safe zone after launch.

Earth photobombs the far side of the moon in this color-corrected photo taken by China's Longjiang-2 microsatellite on Feb. 4, 2019, at 10:20 a.m. EST (1520 GMT).

A Tiny Chinese Lunar Orbiter Just Crashed on the Moon's Far Side (on Purpose)

By Leonard David

China's tiny lunar orbiter Longjiang-2, also known as DSLWP-B, crashed intentionally into the moon's far side on July 31, according to media reports.

The private Chinese company iSpace successfully launched its first orbital rocket, Hyperbola-1, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on July 25, 2019.

Chinese iSpace Achieves Orbit with Historic Private Sector Launch

By Andrew Jones

iSpace became the first Chinese private firm to achieve orbit with Thursday’s successful launch from a national space center in the Gobi Desert.

A view of Tiangong-2 (below) docked with Shenzhou-11 imaged by Banxing-2.

China's Tiangong-2 Space Lab Falls to Earth Over South Pacific

By Andrew Jones

China carried out the controlled deorbiting of its Tiangong-2 space lab into the South Pacific, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced Friday.

The moon's resource-rich south pole is getting a lot of interest and attention these days.

China Eyes Robotic Outpost at the Moon's South Pole in Late 2020s

By Mike Wall

The moon's south pole could be getting pretty busy a decade from now.

Liftoff of a Long March 3B from Xichang at 2:09 p.m. Eastern June 24, 2019.

China Launches Latest Beidou Satellite for Global Navigation System

By Andrew Jones

A Long March 3B lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China at 2:09 p.m. Eastern Monday, sending a Beidou satellite toward an inclined geosynchronous orbit.

A Long March 5 rocket lifts off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center July 2. The launch was later declared a failure.

China's Moon, Mars and Space Station Missions May be Facing Delays

By Andrew Jones

Artist's illustration of China's planned space station in Earth orbit.

International Experiments Selected for China's Space Station

By Leonard David

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the China Manned Space Agency have announced the winners of their joint opportunity to conduct experiments onboard the China Space Station.

China's Long March 11 rocket lifts off from a mobile launch platform in the Yellow Sea on June 5, 2019.

China Gains New Flexible Launch Capabilities With First Sea Launch

By Andrew Jones

China successfully launched a Long March 11 solid rocket from a sea launch platform Wednesday, bringing its burgeoning space program new, flexible launch capabilities.

China's Long March 11 rocket lifts off from a mobile launch platform in the Yellow Sea on June 5, 2019.

China Aces Its 1st Rocket Launch at Sea, Puts 7 Satellites in Orbit (Video)

By Hanneke Weitering

Watch the rocket soar above the Yellow Sea!

A Chinese Long March 4C rocket has reportedly failed after launching on May 23, 2019 local time. Shown here: A Long March-4C carrier rocket carrying the Yaogan III satellite blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on Nov. 12, 2007 in this photo from China's Xinhua News Agency

China Appears to Have Suffered a Long March Launch Failure

By Andrew Jones

A planned launch of a remote sensing satellite from Taiyuan in north China may have ended in failure, with the lack of an official statement suggesting an issue with the mission.

Breakdown of the iSpace Hyperbola-1 launch vehicle.

China's iSpace to Make Private Orbital Launch Attempt in Early June

By Andrew Jones

Launch firm iSpace in early June will attempt to become the first Chinese private company to place a satellite in orbit, following failed launches by two competitors.

Liftoff of the Jiangeng-1 technology demonstration vehicle on April 23, 2019.

Chinese Firms Space Transportation and Linkspace Test Reusable Launcher Technologies

By Andrew Jones

Two Chinese launch startups have successfully carried out tests of technology demonstration rockets as part of quests to develop reusable launch vehicles.

China's lunar program released this image of Yutu 2's tire tracks on the moon on March 30, 2019.

China's Chang'e 4 Moon Lander, Yutu 2 Rover Awake for 4th Lunar Workday

By Meghan Bartels

It's back to work for China's moon mission: The Chang'e 4 lander and the Yutu 2 rover both awoke over the weekend to start their fourth lunar day.

The OS-M1 rocket assembled in Xi’an, north China.

Chinese Private Firm OneSpace Fails with First Orbital Launch Attempt

By Andrew Jones

OneSpace of China failed to become the first private launch firm to place a satellite in orbit after the loss of its OS-M1 solid launch vehicle Wednesday.

China’s Chang’e 4 rover, called Yutu 2, moved between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28, 2019. The upper left panel shows the landing site before Chang’e 4’s Jan. 2 touchdown; the upper right panel is the best-resolution photo of the lander and rover taken so far. The lower left image was taken six hours later. The most recent view, in the lower right, shows that Yutu 2 traversed 150 feet (46 meters) to the west during the month of February.

NASA Moon Orbiter Tracks Chinese Rover on Lunar Farside (Photos)

By Leonard David

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter continues to monitor the whereabouts and wanderings of China's Yutu 2 rover on the moon's far side.

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launches the ChinaSat 6C communications satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on March 10, 2019. It was China's 300th successful Long March rocket launch.

China Launched Its 300th Long March Rocket This Month

By Tariq Malik

China launched its 300th Long March rocket mission March 10 with the communications satellite ChinaSat 6C.

The 140-kilogram Chang’e-4 mission rover Yutu-2.

Chang'e 4 Spacecraft Enter 3rd Lunar Night, Yutu 2 Hits Design Lifetime

By Andrew Jones

The Chang'e 4 lander and Yutu-2 have powered down for a third lunar nighttime on the far side of the moon, with the rover reaching its design lifetime.