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 6 rocket with four solid strap-on boosters launches two satellites to space on March 29, 2022.

China's first modified Long March 6 rocket aces debut launch (video)

By Mike Wall published

A Long March 6 rocket featuring four solid strap-on boosters successfully launched two satellites to orbit on Tuesday (March 29), according to media reports.

The Shenzhou 13 astronauts during a real-time Q&A with students.

China's record-setting Shenzhou 13 crew preparing for mid-April return to Earth

By Andrew Jones last updated

China's three Shenzhou 13 astronauts are preparing to return to Earth after a national record six-month-long mission in orbit aboard the Chinese space station.

An image of China's Chang'e 3 lander taken by the mission's rover in 2013.

Next China moon mission will need precision landing to target ice at south pole

By Andrew Jones published

The mission is planned to launch around 2024.

China's Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter captured this photo of NASA's Perseverance rover (bottom right) on the Red Planet's surface on March 7, 2022. The other arrow, in the center of the frame, points out Perseverance's landing area.

Chinese Mars orbiter spies Zhurong, Perseverance rovers (photos, video)

By Mike Wall published

China's Tianwen 1 orbiter recently captured photos of China's Zhurong rover and NASA's Perseverance rover as the two wheeled robots explored their Martian surroundings.

A "selfie" of Zhurong and its lander captured by a deployed remote camera.

China may have its sights set on a mission to Venus

By Andrew Jones published

China is considering adding a mission to Venus to its plans for planetary exploration, according to a senior Chinese space official.

The HiRISE camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image of China's Zhurong rover on the Martian surface on March 11, 2022.

Tracks of China's Zhurong Mars rover spotted by NASA orbiter (photo)

By Andrew Jones published

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has spotted China's Zhurong rover down on the surface, providing an epic overview of the vehicle's travels through the red dirt.

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 missions to the moon and Mars are starting to deliver exciting science results

By Andrew Jones published

A pair of daring Chinese missions launched in 2020 is sparking new and broader interest in planetary science in China.

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 plans to open its Tiangong space station for tourism within a decade

By Andrew Jones published

China is looking to spark interest in space tourism by opening its soon-to-be-completed Tiangong space station to everyday citizens.

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 rover reveals how weather and ancient water altered rocks on Mars

By Andrew Jones published

China’s first Mars rover Zhurong reveals how weather and ancient water changed the surface of the largest impact basin on Mars.

Time-lapse imaging of Yutu 2 progress across the lunar landscape.

China's Yutu 2 rover beams back stunning image after 3 years on moon's far side

By Andrew Jones last updated

China's Yutu 2 rover has returned a view of its path over three years of travel across the harsh environment of the moon's far side.

China's Shenzhou 13 astronaut Wang Yaping sends an International Women's Day greeting to women everywhere from aboard the Tiangong space station module Tianhe on March 8, 2022.

International Women's Day 2022: China's 1st woman on space station sends message from orbit

By Andrew Jones published

The first woman on China's space station celebrated International Women's Day from orbit on March 8.

A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launches the three Shenzhou 13 astronauts to the country's Tiangong space station module Tianhe on Oct. 16, 2021 local time. China now wans a reusable rocket for future astronaut launches.

China wants its new rocket for astronaut launches to be reusable

By Andrew Jones published

China is planning for its new generation crew launch vehicle to have a reusable first stage.

The Yutu 2 rover, as seen by the Chang'e 4 lander.

China's moon rover spots 2 strange glass spheres on lunar far side

By Andrew Jones published

China's Yutu 2 rover has made yet another curious discovery during its travels on the far side of the moon, this time turning up a pair of translucent glass globules.

Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping performs the traditional folk song "Jasmine Flower" on a guzheng as part of a Lantern Festival celebration on the Tianhe module of the Tiangong space station during the Shenzhou 13 mission on Feb. 15, 2022.

Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping celebrates Lantern Festival with traditional music from space (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China's Tiangong space station is still under construction but the astronauts aboard are already bringing aspects of Chinese traditions and culture into space.

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 aims to complete space station, break launch record in 2022

By Andrew Jones published

China has achieved a great deal in the final frontier recently, and the new document makes clear that the country plans to build aggressively on those successes.

China's robotic arm is pictured outside of the Tiangong space station.

See a large robotic arm 'crawl' across China's space station (video)

By Andrew Jones published

Footage from China's space station shows how its large robotic arm can "crawl" along the outside of the spacecraft.

An illustration of an Orienspace Gravity 1 rocket on a sea launch platform.

A new Chinese rocket company has raised more than $100 million

By Andrew Jones published

China's Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter captured this stunning selfie above the Red Planet by jettisoning a small camera and beaming photos via WiFi to the mothership.

China's Tianwen 1 Mars mission marks 1st full year in orbit

By Andrew Jones published

It's been a year since China's first-ever independent interplanetary mission reached Mars, and in that time, Tianwen 1 has made major achievements while also delivering a number of surprises.

Screenshot from a recently released video selfie taken by China's Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter.

China's Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter takes amazing video selfie for lunar New Year

By Andrew Jones published

China's Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter is once again delivering stunning imagery, with a new video released to celebrate the lunar New Year.

Astronaut Wang Yaping wishes the people of China a happy lunar new year for the Year of the Tiger from China's Tiangong space station module Tianhe.

Chinese astronauts celebrate lunar new year on Tiangong space station, a first

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Shenzhou 13 astronauts are the first to celebrate the holiday in orbit on the Tiangong space station.