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 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.

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

Should we really be worried about China's uncontrolled rocket booster reentries?

By Ben Turner published

The rocket had been circling the Earth since Halloween

A render of, and details about, China's new-generation crew launch vehicle, which is designed to fly astronauts to the moon.

China's huge new crew-launching moon rocket could fly for 1st time in 2027

By Andrew Jones published

Chinese rocket designers have said the country's new rocket for sending astronauts to the moon could be ready for a test flight in 2027.

The Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft departs China's Tiangong space station on Nov. 9, 2022.

Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft undocks from China's Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published

The Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft undocked from China’s Tiangong space station on Nov. 9 and will soon burn up in Earth's atmosphere after completing its mission.

A Long March 7 rocket topped with the Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft rolls out to the pad at Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan island on Nov. 9, 2022.

China rolls out rocket for Tianzhou 5 cargo launch to space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published

A Long March 7 rocket carrying the robotic Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft rolled out to its pad on Hainan island early Wednesday (Nov. 9) to gear up for an expected Friday (Nov. 11) launch.

A hot fire test of the YF-130 liquid rocket engine on Nov. 5, 2022.

China just test-fired the engine for its huge new moon and Mars rocket

By Andrew Jones published

China has completed a first hot fire test of a fully-assembled powerful new engine that could power new launch vehicles and boost the country's space capabilities.

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from Xichang spaceport on Nov. 5, 2022, carrying the Zhongxing 19 (ChinaSat 19) satellite into orbit.

China launches Zhongxing 19 communications satellite

By Andrew Jones published

China has a new, powerful communications satellite heading to geostationary orbit after a successful launch over the weekend.

China's new Mengtian module for the Tiangong space station is moved into its final position on the T-shaped orbiting laboratory.

China completes T-shaped Tiangong space station with new Mengtian module move

By Andrew Jones published

The basic construction of China’s space station is complete, following a maneuver to shift the recently arrived Mengtian module to its permanent docking port.

Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, speaks during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on April 21, 2021 in Washington, DC.

China's latest giant rocket debris crash blasted by US and European space chiefs

By Brett Tingley published

The heads of NASA and the European Space Agency have issued statements condemning the latest example of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket booster falling to Earth in an uncontrolled reentry.

Map of possible trajectories for falling Chinese space junk showing a South Pacific impact

Whew! 23-ton Chinese rocket debris falls to Earth over Pacific Ocean

By Brett Tingley last updated

A 23-ton rocket body from China's launch of a Long March 5B rocket has fallen safely into the south-central Pacific Ocean after creating questions over where it will come down once again.

A Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket and the Mengtian space lab at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on October 25, 2022 in Wenchang, Hainan Province of China.

A 23-ton Chinese rocket will fall to Earth Friday. But when and where will it land?

By Mike Wall last updated

A huge hunk of Chinese space junk is expected to crash back to Earth on Friday (Nov. 4), but nobody knows exactly where or when it will come down.

A Long March 5B rocket carrying the Mengtian module for China's Tiangong space station launches on Oct. 31, 2022.

China's falling Long March 5B rocket stage spotted from space (photos)

By Andrew Jones published

A large Chinese rocket stage predicted to make an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere on Friday (Nov. 4) has been imaged by an orbiting satellite.

A Long March 5B Y3 carrier rocket was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in China’s Hainan province on July 24. Some of its debris fell into the Indian Ocean.

Another huge piece of Chinese space junk is falling to Earth. 'Here we go again,' experts say

By Brett Tingley published

Another Chinese Long March 5B rocket body will once again plummet to Earth in the coming days above a yet-to-be-determined location.

China's mysterious orbital space plane may be similar to the U.S. Space Force's robotic X-37B, seen here in a 2009 photo.

Is China's mysterious space plane about to return to Earth?

By Mike Wall published

China's mysterious space plane ejected an object on Oct. 31, perhaps signaling that its time in orbit is nearly up.

A Long March 2D rocket launches China's Shiyan-20C satellite to orbit on Oct. 28, 2022.

China launches mysterious Shiyan-20C satellite to orbit (video)

By Mike Wall published

The classified Shiyan-20C satellite lifted off on Friday (Oct. 28), riding a Long March 2D rocket into the sky from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

A Long March 5B rocket carrying the Mengtian module for China's Tiangong space station launches on Oct. 31, 2022.

China launches final module to complete Tiangong space station (video)

By Andrew Jones last updated

The Mengtian module launched to Earth orbit atop a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket from Wenchang, south China, on Monday (Oct. 31).

grey rock against black background

Asteroids threatening Earth could be spotted by network of spacecraft near Venus' orbit, Chinese scientists say

By Andrew Jones published

We could detect potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids by using six surveyor spacecraft deployed in Venus-like orbits, Chinese researchers propose.

A Chinese Long March 5B rocket carrying the Mengtian space station module rolls out to the launch pad on Oct. 25, 2022.

Chinese launch next week will set stage for another big space-junk crash

By Leonard David published

The Long March 5B rocket expected to launch China's Mengtian module on Oct. 31 will likely fall back to Earth uncontrolled a week or so later.

A Chinese Long March 5B rocket carrying the Mengtian space station module rolls out to the launch pad on Oct. 25, 2022.

China rolls out rocket to launch 3rd and final space station module (photos)

By Andrew Jones published

A Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket rolled out to the pad at Wenchang spaceport on Hainan island early Tuesday (Oct. 25) ahead of a launch expected on or around Oct. 31.

Sosigenes, a tub-shaped lunar depression, is thought to be the result of volcanic eruptions on the moon.

China moon mission samples upend theories of lunar volcanism

By Andrew Jones published

An analysis of lunar samples returned by China's Chang'e 5 moon mission has produced a new possible answer for volcanism late in the moon's history.