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Aerospace: Companies

China’s C919 order backlog raises urgency for foreign-part acquisitions

Officials hope to eventually source hi-tech plane components domestically to drive industrial self-sufficiency, but for now overseas producers are essential.

20 Nov 2024 - 10:43AMvideocam

China airliners

With China’s C919 flying high, factory visits aim to replicate Boeing’s success

20 Nov 2024 - 10:48AMvideocam

China airliners

US, European plane-part giants aspire to power China’s widebody C929 ambitions

15 Nov 2024 - 4:10PMvideocam

US-China relations

China’s space ambitions face ‘huge test’ from Musk presence in Trump White House

Chinese observers say Beijing needs to stick to its own milestones and avoid getting into a race with the US if possible.

13 Nov 2024 - 8:35PMvideocam

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on stage at a campaign rally for Donald Trump during the US presidential election campaign. Photo: AFP

China airliners

Explainer | China’s 4 commercial jets unboxed: from the rebranded C909 to a futuristic C939

More details about China’s home-grown passenger planes emerge at Zhuhai air show, with new sales and lofty aviation ambitions on display.

20 Nov 2024 - 10:49AMvideocam

China airliners

China’s widebody C929 jet lands first buyer at top-flight Zhuhai air show

The home-grown C929, still under development, was the subject of a preliminary purchase agreement at China’s premier air show.

15 Nov 2024 - 4:11PMvideocam

US-China tech war

Musk’s SpaceX asks Taiwanese suppliers to move production abroad

The US company has requested multiple satellite component manufacturers to produce outside Taiwan, sources say.

6 Nov 2024 - 11:00AM

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from lthe Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo: Reuters

E-commerce

Chinese rocket firm is selling tickets to space on Taobao for US$280,000 each

The suborbital trip, scheduled for 2027, will last around 12 minutes with a maximum height of 150 kilometres.

26 Oct 2024 - 6:00PM

Aerospace: Industry Trends

Chinese aerospace firm offers space tourists US$210,000 rocket rides from 2027

Deep Blue Aerospace sells 2 tickets for a trip it says features at least 5 minutes of weightlessness in outer space.

25 Oct 2024 - 6:59PMvideocam

China’s C919 passenger plane

C919 tour gives students a glimpse of China’s ‘road to take-off’

Students shown the final assembly of China’s C919 home-grown passenger jet as its manufacturing base in Shanghai.

24 Oct 2024 - 5:00PM

A tour group during a tour of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China’s manufacturing base in Pudong. Photo: Mandy Zuo

China's economic recovery

Why are international airlines cutting flights to China?

Fewer flights to China by Western airlines seen as a reflection of reduced demand for business travel amid economic slowdown.

20 Oct 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

Virgin Atlantic is said to be planning to suspend its 25-year-old Shanghai-London Heathrow route from next Saturday. Photo: Reuters

China’s C919 passenger plane

Mentor or rival? China takes notes from Brazilian giant Embraer as C919 soars

Aviation exchanges are expected as President Xi Jinping visits Brazil next month.

7 Oct 2024 - 11:06PMvideocam

United States

Boeing’s space and defence chief exits in new CEO’s first executive move

Colbert’s departure is part of a management shake-up as Boeing bids to restore public confidence and repair its battered image.

21 Sep 2024 - 3:17PM

China’s C919 passenger plane

China’s home-grown C919 reaches new heights with flight to ‘roof of the world’

C919 ‘smoothly landed’ at one of the highest airports in the world in western China on Thursday ahead of a series of ‘research and development test flights’.

25 Sep 2024 - 6:20PM

China’s first home-grown narrowbody civilian aircraft flew to the capital of the Tibet autonomous region for the first time on Thursday. Photo: CCTV

United States

Historic SpaceX private astronaut mission splashes down off Florida

The team had managed to hit a peak altitude of 1400km, the furthest humans have travelled from Earth since the Apollo missions to the Moon.

15 Sep 2024 - 4:51PMvideocam

Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman reacts upon his return to Earth from space on Sunday. Photo: SpaceX via AP

United States

Tech billionaire pulls off first private spacewalk high above Earth

Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman is one of several wealthy passengers increasingly plunking down huge sums for rides aboard private rockets.

12 Sep 2024 - 8:08PM

United States

SpaceX launches billionaire to conduct 1st private spacewalk

Considered one of the riskiest parts of space flight, spacewalks have been done only by professional astronauts – until now.

11 Sep 2024 - 12:53AM

Tourism

Got US$600,000? Virgin Galactic looks for space tourists in Asia

Virgin Galactic is now discreetly soliciting interest in Asia for its space tourism flights, which will restart on new spaceships in 2026

9 Sep 2024 - 7:15AM

Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity takes flight in May 2018. Photo: AFP

United States

Elon Musk plans to send uncrewed Starships to Mars in 2 years

The billionaire said the mission will be unmanned to test the reliability of landing intact on the red planet.

8 Sep 2024 - 10:47AMvideocam

Space

Boeing’s troubled Starliner spaceship lands back on Earth without crew

Starliner’s smooth return was a relief for the aviation giant’s space ambitions after Nasa deemed it too risky to send astronauts home on it.

7 Sep 2024 - 1:12PM

International Space Station (ISS)

Nasa explains away strange noise heard by astronaut in Boeing’s Starliner

‘A pulsing sound from a speaker in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft heard by Nasa astronaut Butch Wilmore … has stopped,’ the space agency said.

3 Sep 2024 - 8:33AMvideocam

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft docked to the International Space Station’s Harmony module forward port. Photo: Nasa / TNS

United States

Musk’s SpaceX tightens grip on Nasa by bringing Boeing crew home from ISS

Nasa’s reliance on SpaceX grows as Boeing’s Starliner faces setbacks, highlighting the firm’s dominance in US space missions and satellite launches, while sparking concerns over Musk’s sway on US foreign policy.

27 Aug 2024 - 6:42PM

SpaceX

SpaceX delays launch of first-ever private spacewalk mission

Historic launch of Polaris Dawn mission with all-civilian crew is delayed by at least a day to check a ‘ground-side helium leak’.

27 Aug 2024 - 2:13PM

Space

SpaceX to bring Boeing’s Starliner astronauts home next year, Nasa says

In a blow to Boeing’s space programme, what was expected to be an eight-day mission to the International Space Station will last for months.

25 Aug 2024 - 9:23AM

Space

Nasa weighs SpaceX rescue for stranded Boeing Starliner crew

The astronauts may have to be brought home in a rival Crew Dragon capsule in February, in what would be a major embarrassment for Boeing.

8 Aug 2024 - 7:08AM

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is seen docked at the International Space Station in July. Photo: Nasa via AP

United States

Nasa astronauts stuck on ISS confident Boeing Starliner will bring them home

Thruster issues and helium leaks on Boeing capsule have kept two Americans in space far longer than planned.

11 Jul 2024 - 11:07AM

The Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station. Photo: Nasa via AP

Rocket

Private Chinese rocket explodes after accidental launch

1 Jul 2024 - 4:46PM

Science

China’s Space Pioneer blames massive rocket-test crash on structural failure

Company says kerosene-liquid oxygen-propelled rocket launched unexpectedly and crashed in hills, with no casualties.

1 Jul 2024 - 3:46PM

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Aerospace: Companies

As China bets on tech and innovation to drive its growth, it has placed its chips on several industrial sectors that are expected to play increasingly important roles in development and trade, which will bring fresh opportunities and challenges for stakeholders. SCMP’s China Future Tech is your go-to destination for the latest news, insights, and opinions on these select industries. Explore in-depth coverage of EVs, AI, semiconductors, aerospace, robotics and biomedicine sectors. Follow us to stay ahead in China's evolving competitive landscape.

last updated:

23 October, 2024