Tag: China
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China launches new satellite to test high-speed communication tech
Long March 5 rocket’s lift-off marks pivotal step in validating technologies for next-generation orbital connectivity speeds and reliability China launched a new test communication satellite on June 11 in a pivotal step to validate technology essential for next-generation orbital connectivity speeds and reliability. The Communication Technology Test Satellite No 25 was sent into orbit on…
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China debuts tallest rocket as LandSpace eyes second landing try
What milestone did China achieve with its rocket program this month? China successfully debuted its tallest rocket while launching three missions for a single internet constellation this month, marking a significant escalation in the country’s commercial space capabilities. The missions represent China’s most ambitious clustered deployment for broadband services, with LandSpace simultaneously preparing for its…
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China Taps Commercial Launchers for Space Station Cargo
Which commercial launchers will serve China’s space station cargo missions? China has shortlisted four commercial rocket companies to launch a new low-cost cargo transport system for its Tianhe space station, marking a significant shift toward leveraging private sector capabilities for critical national infrastructure. The selection represents Beijing’s most direct integration of commercial launch providers into…
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In a surprise launch, China debuts another big rocket designed for reusability
The race to field China’s first reusable launch vehicle is far less predictable than a similar competition that played out in the United States a decade ago. There was never any real question of which company would develop and demonstrate the first reusable orbital-class rocket in the United States. SpaceX landed a Falcon 9 booster…
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Launch Preview: SpaceX and Chinese rockets to launch internet satellites to LEO
SpaceX and Chinese launches dominate this week’s launch manifest, which features six missions from five launch sites worldwide. Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch three Starlink missions from SpaceX’s California and Florida launch facilities. In China, a Chang Zheng 12B flew on its debut mission on Monday, with a Chang Zheng 8 and Chang Zheng…
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China Readies 6 New Rockets for Launch Including Reusable Tests
Which Chinese Rockets Are Targeting First Flights in 2026? China’s space sector is preparing at least six new launch vehicles for debut flights and reusability demonstrations between June and September 2026, representing the most concentrated wave of Chinese rocket development since the commercial space sector opened in 2014. The lineup includes three state-led Long March…
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Analyst on China’s spent rocket stages: “Things only continue to get worse”
Up until a decade ago, China had never launched as many as 20 orbital rockets a year. But beginning in 2022, the Asian country launched 64 rockets and last year reached a record total of 93, marking it as the second-most productive space power in the world. Further growth is anticipated from both the company’s…
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Launch Preview: Starlink and Amazon Leo missions fill manifest
Six orbital launches are expected worldwide this week, headlined by four Falcon 9 Starlink missions from SpaceX’s launch facilities along the Florida and California coasts. Alongside Falcon 9, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V is set to deploy 29 Amazon Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit, and a Chang Zheng 7A from China will deliver an…
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Shenzhou 23 launches new crew to Tiangong space station
The Chinese space station Tiangong, permanently occupied since June 5, 2022, is about to receive a new set of crew members. Shenzhou 23 launched atop a Chang Zheng 2F (CZ-2F) from Site 91 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Inner Mongolia province of northwest China. Launch took place on Sunday, May 24, at…
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Shenzhou 23 Crew Launch Maintains China’s LEO Station Operations
When Will China Launch Its Next Crew to Tiangong Station? China’s Shenzhou 23 mission is preparing to launch three taikonauts to the Tiangong space station, continuing the nation’s uninterrupted human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) that began on June 5, 2022. The crew rotation represents China’s systematic approach to maintaining permanent operations aboard its…