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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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A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launches the three Shenzhou 13 astronauts on a six-month mission to the country's new Tiangong space station module Tianhe from theJiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on Oct. 16, 2021 local time (Oct. 15 EDT).

China launches Shenzhou 13 astronauts on historic mission to new space station

By Mike Wall

The Shenzhou 13 mission launched from the Gobi Desert today (Oct. 15), sending three astronauts toward China's new space station for a six-month stay.

China's Senzhou 13 commander Zhai Zhigang (left) and astronauts Wang Yagping (center) and Ye Guangfu wave to onlookers as they walk out of their crew quarters ahead of their planned launch from the from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Oct. 16, 2021.

China to launch second space station crew today

By Andrew Jones

China is all set to launch its second crew of three astronauts to its new space station — including the first woman to visit the orbiting outpost.

The Bohai Sea at night, taken by Shenzhou 12 astronaut Tang Hongbo.

These smartphone photos of Earth from space by China's Shenzhou 12 astronauts are just gorgeous

By Andrew Jones

China's Shenzhou 12 astronauts have been back on Earth for nearly a month, but we just got a look at some of the gorgeous photos they captured in orbit — with smartphones.

China's next-generation spacecraft, which flew once to space in May 2020, is seen on display for the first time at the Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai City in the Guangdong province on Oct. 1, 2021.

China just put its next-generation spaceship on display

By Leonard David

Making its public debut is China's next-generation crewed spacecraft.

The Long March 2F to launch Shenzhou 13 crew spacecraft being vertically transferred to the pad at Jiuquan, Oc. 7, 2021.

China rolls out rocket for its longest crew mission yet

By Andrew Jones

China has rolled out a rocket to the pad to send three astronauts from the desert up to its new Tianhe space station core module, although the launch date remains a mystery.

The Chang'e 5 return capsule at its landing site in Inner Mongolia, China, on Dec. 17, 2020.

Moon rocks brought to Earth by Chinese mission fill key gaps in solar system history

By Meghan Bartels

China's new moon-rock treasure trove may be a billion years younger than the material the Apollo program brought home decades ago, according to new research.

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

1,000 days on the moon! China's Chang'e 4 lunar far side mission hits big milestone

By Andrew Jones

A Chinese lander and rover are still up and running more than 1,000 Earth days after they made a historic first-ever landing on the far side of the moon.

An artist's illustration of the Chinese company CAS Space's planned suborbital rocket for space tourism.

Chinese company aims for suborbital space tourism with familiar rocket design

By Andrew Jones

A Chinese launch company is aiming to provide rides to space for tourists as soon as 2024, apparently drawing inspiration from the exploits of Blue Origin.

A Kuaizhou-1A rocket launched the Jilin-1 Gaofen 02D satellite from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Sept. 27, 2021.

Chinese satellite declared lost following back-to-back launches Monday

By Samantha Mathewson

China launched two missions on Monday within only a few hours of each other, and one has been declared lost.

A stuffed cow is currently inhabiting China space station.

Stuffed cow guards China's space station ahead of Shenzhou 13 crew arrival next month

By Andrew Jones

A stuffed cow is currently a lone occupant of the Chinese Tianhe space station, waiting to be joined by the crew of the upcoming Shenzhou 13 mission.

chinese space satellite yangwang 1 aurora meteors

Chinese commercial satellite has been spotting meteors and aurora

By Andrew Jones

A small Chinese commercial satellite has been detecting meteors impacting the atmosphere and even filming the aurora.

Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping spoke at an event in 2017 after her 2013 flight; she may become the first woman to visit China's new space station.

China eyes sending 1st female astronaut to new space station

By Andrew Jones

One of China's few women astronauts is expected to be named among the crew of the upcoming Shenzhou 13 mission to the Chinese space station.

A Chinese Long March 7 rocket launches the Tianzhou 3 automated cargo ship to the country's Tiangong space station module Tianhe on Sept. 20, 2021 from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island.

China launches Tianzhou 3 cargo ship to new space station

By Mike Wall

China has launched a cargo mission to its new space station, just days after astronauts departed the orbiting outpost.

The Chang'e 5 return capsule at its landing site in Inner Mongolia, China, on Dec. 17, 2020.

China moon rock studies include fusion energy analysis, volcanic history

By Andrew Jones

Several science institutions in China are now studying rocks collected from the moon by the Chang'e 5 mission for research that includes evaluating the material as a potential source of fusion power.

The three-person crew of Shenzhou 12 - Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo - are seen after exiting their Shenzhou capsule after landing in n the Gobi Desert in Inner Mongolia on Sept. 17, 2021 to end a 90-day mission to China's Tianhe module, the first piece of the Tiangong space station.

Chinese astronauts land after historic 3-month mission to new space station

By Mike Wall

A spacecraft carrying Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo touched down safely in Inner Mongolia early this morning (Sept. 17), bringing an end to China's historic Shenzhou 12 mission.

A Long March 7 rocket topped with China's Tianzhou 3 cargo spacecraft rolls out to its launch pad in this photo released by the China Manned Space Engineering Office on Sept. 15, 2021.

China rolls out rocket for Tianzhou 3 cargo mission ahead of Monday launch (photos)

By Mike Wall

A Long March 7 rocket topped with the robotic Tianzhou 3 cargo spacecraft rolled out to its pad at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Chinese space officials announced Wednesday (Sept. 15).

China's three Shenzhou 12 astronauts inside their spacecraft during their launch to space.

China's 1st space station crew to return to Earth on Friday

By Andrew Jones

China's three astronauts are set to return home on Friday after two spacewalks and setting a new national record for longest crewed spaceflight mission.

The four civilian astronauts of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission sit inside their Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft for a dress rehearsal of their planned launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on Sept. 15, 2021.

SpaceX's Inspiration4 launch boosts population of space to record-breaking 14 people

By Mike Wall

The launch of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission last night (Sept. 15) brought the population of the final frontier to 14, one more than the previous high.

On July 30, 2021, Shenzhou 12 astronaut Tang Hongbo photographed the spectacular scenery of thousands of lights on the North African continent.

China's Shenzhou 12 astronauts send back stunning images of Earth (photos)

By Andrew Jones

China's Shenzhou 12 astronauts have sent back stunning images taken out of small windows of the Tianhe space station module in low Earth orbit.

A Chinese Long March 4C rocket launches the Gaofen 5 (02) hyperspectral Earth observation satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on Sept. 7, 2021 local Beijing Time.

China launches hyperspectral Earth observation satellite

By Andrew Jones

China launched the Gaofen 5 (02) hyperspectral Earth observation satellite on Tuesday as the country races towards carrying out 40 missions in 2021.