Tag: China
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China Accelerates Launch of Backup Shenzhou Spacecraft After Damage to Docked Capsule
China is preparing to launch its next Shenzhou spacecraft to the Tiangong space station ahead of schedule after damage to a docked return capsule disrupted routine crew operations, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft—originally planned for launch in mid-2026—will now be sent uncrewed roughly six months early to restore an emergency return…
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Launch Roundup: Shenzhou-22 flies un-crewed to Tiangong, SpaceX launch four Falcon 9 missions
In another busy week of launches, SpaceX launched four Falcon 9 missions — four are Starlink missions; a fifth, the Transporter 15 rideshare mission, was expected but has now been pushed back to next week. Internationally, China has launched three rockets from Jiuquan and Xichang, including an uncrewed mission to the Tiangong space station. The…
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Chinese Astronauts Land Safely After Debris Damage Forces Unplanned Return Shift
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after their trip home was delayed when space debris struck their spacecraft last week, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) disclosed the extent of the damage for the first time, saying that “tiny cracks” were discovered in a small window of the…
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Chinese Astronauts to Return on Replacement Spacecraft After Debris Strike, CMSA Says
Three Chinese astronauts will return to Earth on Friday using a different spacecraft after space debris struck their return vessel last week, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said. The crew, part of the Shenzhou-20 mission that began in April, had been scheduled to return on Nov. 5 before what CMSA described as a “suspected…
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China’s Galactic Energy Rocket Fails to Reach Orbit in Latest Launch Attempt
Chinese commercial space firm Galactic Energy said on Monday that one of its Ceres-1 rockets failed to reach orbit, preventing the delivery of its payload of satellites and marking a setback for one of the country’s leading private launch companies. The Beijing-based company confirmed that the Ceres-1 mission did not achieve its intended orbit and…
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China Delays Shenzhou-20 Return Mission After Possible Space Debris Impact
China’s Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft has delayed its planned return to Earth after the vessel was possibly struck by tiny fragments of space debris, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Wednesday. The agency said impact analysis and risk assessments were underway, but did not provide a new timeline for the spacecraft’s return, which had…
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Launch Roundup: Ariane 6 flies, Atlas V and New Glenn both scrub during busy week
This week’s launch manifest featured twelve missions launching on nine different rockets, including the first attempt of the second launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. This roundup covers an eight-day period, from Monday, Nov. 3, to Monday, Nov. 10. In addition to four Falcon 9 missions from SpaceX, an Ariane 62, New Glenn, Chang…
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Launch Roundup: China to launch crew to Tiangong, India to launch new naval satellite
Six missions comprise the worldwide launch manifest this week, including a crewed launch from China and a new naval satellite for the Indian Navy. SpaceX is set to kick off the week with three back-to-back Starlink missions from its pads in California and Florida. Later in the week, China will launch the crewed Shenzhou 21…
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Launch Roundup: Falcon 9 launches five missions in one week
Following the successful flight of Starship Flight 11 on Monday, SpaceX continued its impressive launch cadence with five Falcon 9 missions in one week: three Starlink missions, one Kuiper mission (weather-delayed from last week), and a mission for the Space Development Agency. Internationally, China has launched four times during the week, and Rocket Lab successfully…
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Launch Roundup: Falcon 9 to launch three times, Blue Origin to launch crew
SpaceX leads the launch manifest for the first whole week of October with two Falcon 9 missions. Both of these missions will launch satellites into SpaceX’s internet constellation, Starlink. Meanwhile, Blue Origin joined the launch schedule by launching six people to suborbital space on its New Shepard vehicle, and Orienspace launched for the second time using…