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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 Zhurong Mars rover captured this panorama of the Red Planet. Visible in the foreground are the rover's solar panels and communications equipment.

China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission is going offline for a while

By Leonard David

China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission — both the orbiter and Zhurong rover — will suspend operations for about 50 days starting in mid-September.

China's Zhurong Mars rover captured this panorama of the Red Planet. Visible in the foreground are the rover's solar panels and communications equipment.

China's Zhurong Mars rover returns panorama ahead of planetary blackout

By Andrew Jones

China's Zhurong rover has produced a remarkable new panorama of its surroundings to mark 100 days of activity on Mars as preparations continue for the rover to spend more than a month in safe mode.

The launch of the Long March 3B carrying the TSJW 7 satellite on Aug. 24, 2021.

China launches 4 satellites on 2 rockets within hours of each other

By Andrew Jones

China launched four new communications satellites this week in two launches from different launch sites, within hours.

An artist's illustration of a futuristic spaceship orbiting Earth. The Chinese proposal aims to look into the feasibility of building mega spaceships that are over half a mile long.

China wants to build a mega spaceship that’s nearly a mile long

By Edd Gent

A Chinese science proposal plans to study how to get a giant spacecraft into space.

The People's Bank of China is issuing three commemorative coins to celebrate the success of Tianwen-1, the country's first mission to orbit and land on Mars.

China celebrates its first Mars mission on new gold and silver coins

By Robert Z. Pearlman

China is celebrating its first successful mission to orbit and land on Mars with a new set of gold and silver commemorative coins.

A Chinese Long March 4B carrying two Tianhui-2 radar-mapping satellites.lifts off from Tiayuan on Aug. 19, 2021 local time to deliver the twin satellites into orbit.

China launches twin radar satellites for 3D mapping

By Andrew Jones

China conducted its 29th orbital launch of a busy year to boost the country’s remote sensing and satellite mapping capabilities.

Chinese astronauts during their second spacewalk at the new Tianhe space station.

Chinese astronauts complete second spacewalk at new space station

By Tereza Pultarova

Chinese astronauts conducted their second spacewalk outside of the country's new space station on Friday, installing a range of equipment including a back-up air-conditioning unit.

A panoramic camera image showing the terrain ahead of China's Zhurong Mars rover around Aug. 15, 2021

China's Mars rover Zhurong completes primary mission, gets life extension

By Andrew Jones

China's Zhurong rover has completed its primary three-month-long expedition on Mars but is set to continue exploring the Red Planet.

What could go wrong on the International Space Station, and how would an AI respond?

Can the US and China Cooperate in Space?

By Leonard David

China’s meteoric rise in space science and exploration—along with its new partnership with Russia—is spurring U.S. experts to reconsider a long-standing prohibition on bilateral collaborations

An artist's concept depicting the near-Earth orbital debris field, based on real data from the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office.

Space collision: Chinese satellite got whacked by hunk of Russian rocket in March

By Mike Wall

The partial breakup of China's Yunhai 1-02 military satellite on March 18 is no longer mysterious.

This still from a CCTV video shows scenes from the first successful launch of Hyperbola-1, a privately built orbital rocket built by the Chinese company iSpace. It lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on July 25, 2019.

Chinese startup iSpace fails to reach orbit again with Hyperbola-1 rocket

By Elizabeth Howell

The latest failure of a Chinese commercial rocket may point to growing pains as the country opens its space sector to more private participation, according to a news report.

Chinese scientists released this image of a cotton plant germinating in its tank on the moon’s far side aboard the Chang'e 4 lander. The photograph was taken Jan. 7, 2019.

China will send student experiments into deep space on 2 upcoming missions

By Andrew Jones

China's upcoming exploration mission to the lunar south pole will carry one of more than 500 experiments designed and submitted by students across the country.

The crew of China's Shenzhou-12 astronaut flight to the country's new space station waves to reporters in a press conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on June 16, 2021. They are (from left): Tang Hongbo, Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming.

Tiangong: astronauts are working on China's new space station — here's what to expect

By Gareth Dorrian, Ian Whittaker

Three astronauts on China's new space station have performed the country's first spacewalk and are busy configuring the module for future crews.

A dune imaged in July 2021 by Zhurong after roving more than 1,600 feet (500 meters).

China's Zhurong Mars rover scopes out dunes on journey south

By Andrew Jones

China's Zhurong rover has quietly clocked up 1,900 feet (585 meters) of driving on Mars and has been using its science instruments to check out nearby geologic features in Utopia Planitia.

Launch of a Long March 2C carrying the Yaogan 30 (10) satellites from Xichang.

China launches classified satellites, tests landing nose cone with parachute

By Andrew Jones

China sent three Yaogan 30 series satellites into orbit and used the launch to test controlling the rocket's falling nose cone with a parachute.

China's Mars rover Zhurong captured this view of its parachute and backshell on July 12, 2021.

China's Mars rover Zhurong just found its parachute and backshell (video)

By Mike Wall

China's Zhurong Mars rover has given us nice, up-close looks at some of the hardware that helped it land safely on the Red Planet two months ago.

asteroid bennu

China wants to launch asteroid-deflecting rockets to save Earth from Armageddon

By Ben Turner

Although the asteroid, Bennu, only has a 1-in-2700 chance of hitting Earth, scientists are taking the risk seriously.

An artist's impression of China's Tiangong space station.

China could gain a monopoly on space stations. Here's what to expect.

By Steffi Paladini

After NASA decommissions the ISS, China's Tiangong will probably be the only functioning space station — until NASA launches its Lunar Gateway.

China's Chang'e 5 moon lander snapped this image shortly after touching down on the moon on Dec. 1, 2020.

China's Chang'e 5 moon landing site finally has a name

By Andrew Jones

The landing site for China's complex Chang'e 5 moon sample and return mission now has a name: Statio Tianchuan.

China's Chang's 5 return capsule with samples of the moon is seen after landing in Inner Mongolia, China, on Dec. 17, 2020.

China's Chang'e 6 mission will collect lunar samples from the far side of the moon by 2024

By Andrew Jones

China's new Chang'e 6 mission aims to bring to Earth a sample of lunar soil from one of the most fascinating areas on the far side of the moon by 2024.