Tag: China
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China Debuts Two Commercial Launchers, Tests Orbital Servicing
What are China’s latest commercial space milestones in April 2026? China’s commercial space sector achieved two major launcher debuts within days of each other in early April 2026, with CAS Space and Space Pioneer both conducting successful inaugural flights of new vehicles. CAS Space’s Kinetica-1 solid rocket delivered multiple payloads to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)…
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China debuts new launchers, tests orbital servicing and outlines future deep-space missions
CAS Space and Space Pioneer have both debuted new Chinese commercial launchers within days of each other, with more set to follow. Meanwhile, China conducted its first commercial demonstration of a robotic arm designed for in-space refueling, and outlined plans for future deep-space missions, including an asteroid redirection test and updated details of its crewed…
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Launch Preview: Falcon 9 to loft Cygnus to ISS, Minotaur IV to launch from California
As NASA’s Artemis II mission reaches its halfway point, the launch manifest on Earth continues to stay busy, with eight launches scheduled for the week of April 6th. SpaceX is expected to launch four Falcon 9s this week, including three Starlink missions and the NG-24 mission to the International Space Station. A Northrop Grumman Minotaur…
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Launch Preview: Russia to debut Soyuz-5; Falcon 9 and Atlas V to launch internet satellites
The United States, Russia, China, New Zealand, and Norway are all set to host launches during another busy week of spaceflight. SpaceX is set to launch three missions from its Florida and California launch facilities, while the United Launch Alliance is scheduled to launch Amazon Leo satellites on its Atlas V rocket toward the end…
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LandSpace’s Lanyan Methane Rocket Engine Completes Long-Duration Test
China’s commercial space company LandSpace has successfully conducted a long-duration full-system test of its Lanyan liquid oxygen–methane rocket engine, according to a report by China Media Group. The 220-tonne-class engine uses a full-flow staged-combustion cycle, a highly efficient but technically complex engine design, and is intended to support next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicles for China’s expanding…
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Launch Preview: Falcon 9 to dominate another busy week of missions
Eight launches are scheduled worldwide this week, with Falcon 9 again dominating the launch schedule. SpaceX is set to launch a communications satellite and Starlink satellites this week from its Florida and California launch facilities. Meanwhile, Firefly Aerospace was set to launch its Alpha rocket from California on Tuesday, before scrubbing. Internationally, China is scheduled…
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ISpace Raises $730 Million To Accelerate Reusable Rocket Development
Chinese commercial space company ISpace has raised about 5 billion yuan ($730 million) in a funding round it described as the largest to date for a private aerospace firm in China, as demand for satellite launches surges. The Beijing-based company, formally known as Interstellar Glory Aerospace Science and Technology, said the Series D++ round closed…
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Launch Preview: Vulcan launches USSF-87, SpaceX sends Crew-12 to ISS
The launch manifest is full this week, with eight launches scheduled from different launch sites worldwide. The week kicked off with a SpaceX Starlink mission on Wednesday, followed by a busy Thursday, during which five different rockets — including a Vulcan, a Proton, and the first Ariane 64 — launched. SpaceX and NASA are launching…
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Despite initial setbacks, Chinese spaceflight expected to see exciting 2026
The new year has not started well for China, with two failures among its first six launches. Even so, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year, with numerous new launch vehicles — including several reusable designs — expected to debut, and a realistic prospect of the country’s first propulsive landing of an orbital-class…
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China Launches Remote-Sensing Satellite for Algeria on Long March Rocket
China has successfully launched a remote-sensing satellite for Algeria, placing the Chinese-built AlSat-3B spacecraft into orbit aboard a Long March 2C carrier rocket, Chinese state media and industry officials said. The launch took place from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, with the rocket deploying AlSat-3B into its planned orbit shortly after liftoff. The satellite was…