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.

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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 published 28 July 21

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 published 15 July 21

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.

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

By Ben Turner published 13 July 21

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 published 12 July 21

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 published 8 July 21

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 published 8 July 21

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.

A Long March 2D rocket carrying the satellite Jilin-1 01B blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, on July 3, 2021.

China picks up the launch pace with three space missions in four days

By Elizabeth Howell published 7 July 21

China appears to be returning to its pre-pandemic pace of launching back-to-back space missions.

Shenzhou 12 crewmates Liu Boming (at top) and Tang Hongbo exit the Tianhe core module to perform the first spacewalk outside of China's space station on Saturday, July 3, 2021.

Chinese astronauts install tools on first spacewalk outside new space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 4 July 21

For the first time, two astronauts have worked outside of China's space station.

The crew of China's Shenzhou 12 mission salute for a photo inside the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station after successfully docking at the module on June 17, 2021.

China's president calls Shenzhou 12 astronauts on space station

By Andrew Jones published 28 June 21

China's president made a call to the Tianhe space station module on Wednesday (June 23) to give his support to the Shenzhou 12 astronauts.

China's Mars rover Zhurong poses for a self portrait with its lander in this photo from Utopia Planitia released on June 11, 2021.

Hear the 1st sounds from China's Mars rover Zhurong and watch it drive in new video

By Tariq Malik published 27 June 21

China's first Mars rover has captured its first sounds of the Red Planet and beamed back stunning views of a drive on the dusty world.

A still from an adorable cartoon from China depicting daily life on the country's Tiangong space station with Shenzhou 12 astronauts as pandas.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Panda: Adorable cartoon shows astronaut life on Chinese space station

By Elizabeth Howell published 27 June 21

A new Chinese animated cartoon shows a sample of what the country's astronauts will experience in space on the new Tiangong space station.

A China Long March 2F rocket launches three astronauts to the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station on June 17, 2021.

China is readying Shenzhou 13 spacecraft in case of space station emergency

By Andrew Jones published 26 June 21

With its Shenzhou 12 mission under way, China is preparing a Shenzhou 13 spacecraft in case of an emergency on its new space station.

Chinese astronauts on the country's Tiangong space station module Tianhe will have 120 dishes to choose from at mealtimes. Here, an undated photo of an astronaut drinking from a pouch in orbit.

Chinese astronauts enjoying 120 dishes during space station stay

By Andrew Jones published 25 June 21

China's Shenzhou 12 astronauts will select their meals from more than 120 dishes during their three-month stay in orbit.

The HiRISE camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this photo of China's Zhurong Mars rover (bottom) and its landing platform on June 11, 2021.

NASA spacecraft spots China's Mars rover Zhurong heading south on Red Planet (photo)

By Mike Wall published 24 June 21

China's first-ever Mars rover was on the move earlier this month, imagery by a NASA spacecraft shows.

China's Tiangong space station has a modular design similar to the International Space Station.

China's Tiangong space station: What it is, what it's for, and how to see it

By Paulo de Souza published 23 June 21

It will be built on a modular design, similar to the International Space Station operated by the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency.

China's Chang'e 5 sample-return capsule is seen back on Earth after delivering the first new samples of moon rocks in 44 year. The landing occurred at1:59 a.m. Dec. 17 Beijing time in the Siziwang Banner of Inner Mongolia. It was 12:59 p.m. EST (1759 GMT) and landing.

China's moon rocks are ready to be loaned out for science research

By Andrew Jones published 22 June 21

China's Chang'e 5 spacecraft returned fresh moon rock samples late last year, but the main science of the mission is still just getting underway.

A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launches three astronauts on the Shenzhou 12 mission to the country's new Tiangong space station core module Tianhe from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 9:22 a.m. Beijing Time on June 17, 2021.

Russia wants to send cosmonauts to China space station

By Andrew Jones published 22 June 21

Roscosmos is looking at ways to send its cosmonauts to the Chinese space station, launching from sites in either Russia or French Guiana.

China and Russia will start preparation work for their future lunar research station this year.

Russia, China reveal moon base roadmap but no plans for astronaut trips yet

By Tereza Pultarova published 17 June 21

There are no plans to launch astronauts anytime soon.

China's Shenzhou 12 spacecraft approaches the nation's Tianhe space station module on June 17, 2021, in this screenshot from a CCTV webcast.

China's Shenzhou 12 spacecraft docks at space station with 3 astronauts

By Mike Wall published 17 June 21

Shenzhou 12 docked with Tianhe, the Chinese space station core module, early Thursday morning (June 17), about 6 1/2 hours after lifting off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.