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China's space programme

What is Asia’s role in the global space race?

39 minutes ago

Last BeiDou-3 satellites sent into orbit to test tech for next-gen system

20 Sep 2024 - 8:23PMvideocam

China unveils first analysis of moon’s hidden far side from Chang’e-6 samples

18 Sep 2024 - 3:01PMvideocam

How Chinese expertise helped to build US aerospace programmes

Throughout America’s ambition to lead the world in space exploration, engineers born in China have played major roles.

18 Sep 2024 - 12:15AMvideocam

The US has led the charge in space exploration but China-born experts have helped America each step of the way. Photo: Reuters/Nasa

China’s lunar station project expands with a dozen new partners

Deep space conference in China told that by 2050, ILRS will expand into research network at south pole, equator and far side of moon.

9 Sep 2024 - 4:59PMvideocam

China’s Shenlong space plane ends third flight, shows ‘maturing’ performance

Reusable spacecraft lands in Gobi Desert months after US detects unknown object ejected from the plane and sent into same orbit.

6 Sep 2024 - 9:00PMvideocam

China sets 2028 date for historic Mars mission – as US plan left in limbo

In the race for the red planet, China has taken the lead, with its Tianwen-3 mission launch date brought forward two years.

6 Sep 2024 - 7:00PMvideocam

China is set to bring forward its Mars mission launch date, while US space agency Nasa is struggling with delays and cost blowouts to get its Mars rock samples back to Earth. Photo: Shutterstock

How a Chinese lunar probe and 3 glass beads rewrote the moon’s geological past

New analysis of mission samples reveals volcanoes were still erupting on the moon when dinosaurs walked the Earth.

6 Sep 2024 - 2:30AMvideocam

Eyeing China, US plans to deploy satellites to track targets by 2030s

Senior Space Force official describes Beijing and Moscow as ‘pacing challenges’ that can ‘target and destroy space systems’ in all orbits.

5 Sep 2024 - 5:55AMvideocam

Editorial | Deal boosts hopes of peace in outer space

UN body is to be applauded for reaching agreement on actions to address threats and security challenges.

1 Sep 2024 - 8:00AM

A UN body of experts says it has agreed on practical measures to prevent an arms race in outer space. Image: Shutterstock

US general urges China to report space debris as G60 satellite network launches

US Space Command chief says Beijing failed to notify about space junk left behind after rocket launches, but notes ‘positive’ moves.

1 Sep 2024 - 2:36PMvideocam

A rocket carrying satellites for China’s Qianfan Constellation blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on August 6. Photo: CCTV

Steps to prevent arms race in outer space agreed by UN expert body

The act of consensus is perceived as a move towards peace in space.

28 Aug 2024 - 11:10AMvideocam

Chinese scientists devise method to get water from moon rocks

The technique, developed following a study of samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 mission, could be a key step to building a lunar base.

22 Aug 2024 - 9:14PMvideocam

China’s initial launch for internet satellite network creates space debris

After delivering the first 18 satellites for the Qianfan Constellation project, the upper stage of the Long March 6A rocket broke apart, the US Space Command reports.

10 Aug 2024 - 2:21PM

This Long March 6A rocket, which launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on Tuesday,
reportedly created a cloud of space debris after delivering the first satellites for a global internet network. Photo: CCTV

China and Russia hold talks on ‘peaceful’ use of outer space

Space is one of the major emerging sectors where the two countries have been working to boost cooperation.

9 Aug 2024 - 10:32PMvideocam

Chinese representative Ma Xinmin and his Russian counterpart Sergey Belousko, at the talks in Moscow. Photo: Chinese foreign ministry

With Musk all in for Trump, what might that mean for US space policy?

A second Trump administration could not only feature much more work for the commercial rocket launcher SpaceX, but also a White House adviser role for Musk.

27 Jul 2024 - 5:28AMvideocam

China 1 step closer to putting person on moon as rocket engine passes test

The YF-75E will power the final section of the Long March-10 lunar launcher and was tested on a newly completed rig at an unknown location.

25 Jul 2024 - 2:50AMvideocam

Chinese team studying moon soil finds first trace of lunar water

Scientists find hydrated mineral ‘enriched’ with molecular water based on soil samples returned by Chang’e-5 mission in 2020.

23 Jul 2024 - 8:02PMvideocam

Chinese scientists, using a sample provided by CNSA, isolated more than 1,000 mineral clasts that include a crystal dubbed “unknown lunar mineral” (ULM-1) that contained water molecules. Photo: CNSA

Hungarian solar research lab signs up for China-led ILRS moon project

Robert Fay-Siebenburgen, president of Hungarian Solar Physics Foundation inks MOU with officials from China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei, bringing ILRS partners to around 25.

22 Jul 2024 - 8:33PMvideocam

Chinese scientists propose information superhighway between Earth and the moon

A plan for a communication and monitoring network between Earth and the moon has been revealed by Chinese researchers.

20 Jul 2024 - 2:19PM

China seeks space supremacy and to exploit it ‘to our detriment’: US intel head

Beijing’s advances in military applications cited as evidence of its plan to build ‘important capabilities to deter or to compel behaviours’.

18 Jul 2024 - 5:48AMvideocam

A Chinese soldier walks by the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft sitting atop a Long March rocket covered on a launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China on April 24, 2024. Photo: AP

A satnav system for the moon? Chinese scientists plot a possible route

China’s lunar ambitions could soon be aided by the construction of 21 satellites for a moon navigation system.

14 Jul 2024 - 12:17PMvideocam

Chinese scientists have proposed a satellite navigation system to give around-the-clock services to all parts of the moon. Photo: Shutterstock

Editorial | Shot at latest moon rocks helps Hong Kong lift off

Hong Kong Polytechnic University hopes to compare lunar soil collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from far side with nearside samples of Chang’e-5.

11 Jul 2024 - 6:15AM

China’s state-owned defence firms pledge to tackle corruption

Companies pledge to tighten rules on bidding and procurement amid crackdown that has snared two former defence ministers.

9 Jul 2024 - 10:32PMvideocam

China fortifies Tiangong space station after Russian satellite explosion

In 6½-hour mission, two crew spacewalk to install shields against debris and photograph the station’s exterior.

5 Jul 2024 - 1:26AMvideocam

Astronaut Li Cong works outside Tiangong space station. The Shenzhou-18 crew completed its second spacewalk at 10.51pm Hong Kong time on Wednesday, according to CMSA. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong researchers eye far side of moon soil samples from Chang’e-6 mission

Polytechnic University also says it recently secured loan of lunar soil samples collected by Chang’e-5 mission in 2020.

4 Jul 2024 - 2:34AMvideocam

The space resources laboratory of PolyU’s Deep Space Exploration Research Centre has set up a lunar soil sample storage and analysis facility. Photo: May Tse

China’s commercial space hub opening clashes with exploding rocket mishap

The Hainan island facility was built in record time with further expansion planned as experts predict a more cautious private aerospace sector.

2 Jul 2024 - 3:28PM

Opinion | US warnings against China’s tech dominance smack of thief crying ‘thief’

Washington’s accusations are clearly driven more by its fear of the US losing its tech hegemony than by China overtaking it.

2 Jul 2024 - 10:07AMvideocam

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China's space programme

The China National Space Administration was founded more than 25 years ago and is overseeing an ambitious programme which includes deep space exploration, a manned space station, and cutting-edge advancements in technology, new materials, robotics and artificial intelligence.

last updated:

9 September, 2024