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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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An image of Mars captured by the Hope spacecraft on Feb. 26, 2021, shows Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system.

Welcome to Mars! Bill Nye and Robert Zubrin hail new Red Planet visitors.

By Elizabeth Howell

Two prominent space advocacy groups are cheering the new generation of Mars explorers.

A Long March 5B rocket launches Tianhe, the core module of China's new space station, on April 28, 2021.

China's huge rocket booster falling from space highlights orbital debris problem

By Leonard David

The upcoming atmospheric re-entry of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket body is a reminder of a much larger problem, experts say.

The Long March 5B rocket carrying the core module of China's space station, Tianhe, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on April 29, 2021.

Rocket debris from China's space station launch is falling back to Earth — but where?

By Elizabeth Howell

A large Chinese rocket is set to make an uncontrolled reentry back into Earth's atmosphere, but it is not yet clear exactly where or when the debris will hit our planet.

An artist's illustration of China's space station in Earth orbit. The station is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2022.

China's new space station will need 10 more launches to complete

By Leonard David

The Wednesday (April 28) launch of the Tianhe core module will be followed by a series of cargo and crew liftoffs aimed at completing the construction of China's space station by the end of 2022.

A Long March 5B rocket launches Tianhe, the core module of China's new space station, on April 28, 2021.

China launches core module of new space station to orbit

By Mike Wall

China launched a module called Tianhe to Earth orbit tonight (April 28), kicking off the construction of the nation's new space station.

A Long March 2F rocket undergoes testing in the factory in Beijing, in January 2021.

China is preparing to launch three astronauts to its new space station

By Andrew Jones

China is getting ready to launch three astronauts on a mission to visit the first module for the country's new space station.

A Chinese Long March 5B rocket carrying the Tianhe space station core module rolls out to its launchpad at the Enchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Hainan Island in the southern Hainan province on April 23, 2021 ahead of a planned April 29 launch.

China is set to launch first module of massive space station

By Ling Xin

The new orbiting laboratory will host research from Chinese and international scientists

Artist's illustration of China's Tianwen-1 Mars rover, which has been named "Zhurong," on the Red Planet. Zhurong is expected to land in mid-May 2021.

Meet 'Zhurong': China names Tianwen-1 Mars rover ahead of mid-May landing attempt

By Andrew Jones

China has named its first-ever Mars rover "Zhurong" after an ancient fire god ahead of a landing attempt on the Red Planet in May.

Shiyan 6 (03) lifts off atop of a Long March 4B rocket from Taiyuan on April 8, 2021.

China launches experimental satellite into polar orbit

By Andrew Jones

China's latest space launch sent a third Shiyan 6 experimental satellite into orbit while sporting a new, ultra-black coating to help improve performance of optical sensors.

China is preparing for a space telescope and its own space station.

China wants to launch its own Hubble-class telescope as part of space station

By Andrew Jones

China could launch the first module for its own space station this month as the country also prepares to send a large space telescope to join it in orbit within the next few years.

The asteroid 2016 HO3 has an orbit around the sun that keeps it as a constant companion of Earth.

Russia joins China's mission to sample an asteroid and study a comet

By Andrew Jones

China has selected a Russian science payload to fly on an upcoming mission to sample a near-Earth asteroid and later visit a main-belt comet.

China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft orbiting Mars captured this stunning view of a crescent Red Planet on March 18, 2021. Shown here is the planet's northern hemisphere from a distance of 6,850 miles (11,000 kilometers).

China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft captures stunning crescent Mars photos

By Andrew Jones

China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft has captured stunning images of Mars as a bright red sunlit crescent in deep space.

Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping spoke at an event held in 2017.

With 1st space station launch this spring, Chinese astronauts are training for flight

By Andrew Jones

Chinese astronauts are undergoing intense training for the first crewed missions to construct the nation's new space station, work that is expected to begin in the next few months.

A Chinese Long March 4C rocket launches the Gaofen-12 (02) Earth observation satellite to orbit.

China launches a second Gaofen-12 Earth observation satellite

By Elizabeth Howell

China launched a new satellite Tuesday (March 30) to increase the number of high-definition Earth observation satellites available to state authorities.

A Long March 4C rocket launched March 14 2021 with three new spy satellites on board.

China has 3 new spy satellites in orbit after Long March 4C launch

By Elizabeth Howell

China launched another trio of satellites into orbit late Friday (March 12), adding to its network of spy satellites observing regions nearby Chinese territory.

A Chinese Long March 7A rocket lifts off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on March 11, 2021.

China's Long March 7A rocket launches on 1st successful flight

By Hanneke Weitering

China's new Long March 7A rocket successfully launched its first orbital mission after its first attempt one year ago ended with a failure.

An image of the north pole of Mars taken by China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft.

Hello, Mars! China unveils 1st HD views from its Tianwen-1 spacecraft

By Meghan Bartels

China's Tianwen-1 mission has spent a month in orbit around Mars now and the photographs are already stunning.

The moon shines in this image taken from General Santos City, Philippines, by skywatcher Peter Jones Dela Cruz on July 3, 2012.

Russia and China just agreed to build a research station on the moon together

By Mike Wall

Leaders of the two nations' space agencies signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday (March 9) on the construction of an outpost called the International Lunar Research Station.

A Chinese Long March 4C rocket lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, carrying three Yaogan 31 Group 3 satellites to orbit.

China just launched three more Yaogan 31 reconnaissance satellites to orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

China successfully sent three reconnaissance satellites into orbit Tuesday (Feb. 23), according to media reports.

China's Tianwen-1 Mars rover is pictured at the "Mars yard," a simulated Red Planet testing ground at the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing, China.

Here's what we know about planetary protection on China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission

By Meghan Bartels

In anticipation of China's first Mars landing attempt, scientists are wondering whether the Tianwen-1 rover may carry Earthly contamination with it to the surface.