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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 artist's illustration of China's Chang'e 5 moon orbiter entering lunar orbit for the country's first moon sample-return mission.

China's Chang'e 5 enters lunar orbit for historic attempt to return moon samples

By Andrew Jones

China's Chang'e 5 spacecraft has entered orbit around the moon ahead of an historic attempt to collect samples from the moon and return to Earth.

A Chinese Long March 5 rocket launches the Chang'e 5 moon sample-return mission into orbit from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Hainan Island in southern China on Nov. 24, 2020 Beijing time (Nov. 23 EST).

China launches historic Chang'e 5 mission to collect the first moon samples since 1976

By Mike Wall

The first lunar sample-return mission since the 1970s is underway.

A Chinese Long March 5 rocket carrying the Chang'e 5 moon sample-return spacecraft rolls out to the launch pad at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Site on Hainan Island on Nov. 17, 2020.

China rolls out Long March 5 rocket for Chang'e 5 moon sample-return mission launch

By Mike Wall

A heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket topped with the robotic Chang'e 5 lunar sample-return mission rolled out to its pad at Wenchang Space Launch Center in China's Hainan province on Tuesday (Nov. 17).

Liftoff of the Long March 3B rocket from Xichang carrying the Chinese Tiantong-1 (02) satellite on Nov. 12, 2020.

China notches 34th launch of the year with communications satellite

By Andrew Jones

China conducted its 34th launch of the year on Nov. 12, sending the Tiantong-1 (02) mobile communications satellite into an orbit high above Earth.

chang'e 4 yutu 2

China's Yutu 2 rover snaps stunning new panoramas from the moon's far side

By Andrew Jones

China's Chang'e 4 moon rover has been snapping new images highlighting the spacecraft's travels and discoveries on the lunar far side.

A Chinese Long March 6 rocket lifts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China, on Nov. 6, 2020.

China launches 13 satellites on a single Long March 6 rocket

By Andrew Jones

China launched a Long March 6 rocket early Friday (Nov. 6), successfully sending 13 satellites into orbit.

China's Tianwen-1 Mars probe is seen by a tiny camera ejected from the spacecraft in a photo captured 15 million miles from Earth.

China chooses landing site for its Tianwen-1 Mars rover

By Andrew Jones

China has apparently chosen a primary landing site for its Tianwen-1 Mars rover ahead of the spacecraft's arrival at the Red Planet in February 2021.

China's Chang'e 4 lander on the far side of the moon, as seen by the mission's Yutu 2 rover.

China unveils ambitious moon mission plans for 2024 and beyond

By Andrew Jones

China is operating a mission on the far side of the moon and is preparing to launch another this year to collect lunar samples — and it's already planning a new set of bold lunar missions.

A roughly 12-inch (30 centimeters) rock to be analyzed by Yutu 2.

China's moon mission robots wake up for a 23rd lunar day as team snags major award

By Andrew Jones

China's Chang'e 4 spacecraft have awoken for another lunar day on the far side of the moon, while on Earth the mission received a prestigious international award for its accomplishments.

China's Tianwen-1 Mars probe is seen by a tiny camera ejected from the spacecraft in a photo captured 15 million miles from Earth.

China's Tianwen-1 Mars probe snaps epic deep-space selfie (photos)

By Andrew Jones

China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft has beamed home some deep-space selfies snapped by a small camera jettisoned during its journey to Mars.

Members of China's astronaut corps pose for a group portrait.

China selects 18 new astronauts in preparation for space station launch

By Leonard David

Chinese has selected a third group of astronauts for the nation's coming space station, the China Manned Space Agency announced.

Model of the new launch vehicle for human spaceflight on display in Zhuhai in 2018.

China is building a new rocket to fly its astronauts on the moon

By Andrew Jones

China has revealed that it is working on a new rocket that could send astronauts to the moon for lunar landing missions.

An artist's depiction of astronauts walking on the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program.

We now know exactly how much radiation astronauts will face on the moon

By Mike Wall

We finally know what kind of radiation environment future moonwalkers will be stepping into.

chang'e 3 lunar lander

China's Chang'e 3 lunar lander still going strong after 7 years on the moon

By Andrew Jones

China has lunar spacecraft operating on both the near and far sides of the moon, according to an update from the China National Space Administration.

A Chinese Long March 11 rocket carrying nine Jilin-1 Gaofen-3 Earth observation satellites launches from the country's sea-based platform De Bo 3 in the Yellow Sea on Sept. 15, 2020.

China launches 9 satellites into space from ocean platform

By Andrew Jones

It's the country's second sea launch success.

A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launches the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in October 2016. On Sept. 4, 2020, a Long March 2F launched a mysterious reusable experiment spacecraft on a two-day orbital mission.

China's reusable experimental spacecraft returns to Earth after two-day mystery mission

By Elizabeth Howell

A Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft has safely landed after two days in orbit, according to state media, and may have deployed a satellite during its mysterious, brief journey in space.

A Chinese Long March 4B rocket launches the Gaofen 11 (02) Earth observation satellite into orbit from the Taiyun Satellite Launch Center on Sept. 7, 2020.

Chinese rocket booster appears to crash near school during Gaofen 11 satellite launch

By Andrew Jones

A Chinese Long March 4B rocket successfully launched a new Earth-watching satellite Monday (Sep. 7) but its first stage narrowly missed a school when it fell back to Earth.

A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launches the Shenzhou-11 mission from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Oct. 17, 2016.

China just launched a 'reusable experimental spacecraft' into orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

China launched an experimental spacecraft into orbit on Friday (Sept. 4), with few details about what the spacecraft will do.

An artist's concept of China's first Mars rover mission, Tianwen-1.

China's Mars mission tests instruments on its way to the Red Planet

By Andrew Jones

China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft is performing well on its cruise to Mars and is preparing for its second trajectory correction maneuver.

China's Tianwan-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.

Tour China's 'Mars yard' for its Tianwen-1 rover mission (video)

By Leonard David

China has built a testing ground for its first Mars mission, Tianwen-1, which launched to the Red Planet in July and aims to land a rover on the surface in April 2021.