Development of Tianwen-3 Mars sample return is progressing well, according to chief designer Liu Jizhong, with breakthroughs in Mars sampling and containment, takeoff & ascent, orbit rendezvous, and planetary protection. This is "laying the groundwork for future continuous exploration" of Mars.
A minor update on Tianwen-2: Liu Jizhong said that Tianwen-2, launched in late May 2025, has already travelled about 700 million kilometres and will arrive at the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 (Kamo'oalewa) "this year" (rumours suggest early July).
China's 1st moon astronauts could land in Rimae Bode, a 'geological museum' on the lunar near side www.space.com/astronomy/mo...
I'd say so. I think we might see something similar to what happened with their solar system boundary plans: numerous concepts and proposals and changing launch windows but perhaps eventual approval.
As a longtime advocate for a US-led ice giant mission, I’m simultaneously disappointed (from a US perspective) and delighted (from a basic science perspective)
From our 2026 vantage point, a 2033 launch window for Neptune feels rather close... but it's encouraging to see this ambition for an Ice Giant mission!
There's a push to for China to adopt an unprecedented Neptune orbiter mission. We may learn later those year if this enters the early study phase (and China has already signalled its commitment to developing nuclear power for space). spacenews.com/chinese-offi...
Solar system bound exploration appears in a draft of China's new 15th five-year plan. Recent proposal:
- Launches in 2032 & 2033
- CZ-5 rockets + Jupiter gravity assists
- Would study head & tail of heliosphere
- Powered by nuclear reactors
- Possible Neptune/Uranus/Saturn flybys
New Chinese launch company: Shenzhen Xiandeng Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd, or Ascendx. Has just raised $10 million or so, planning a 1.5-ton to LEO LOX/kerosene rocket named XD-3, launching in Q3 2027, among grander plans. No info on hardware development status yet.
That's very kind of you, good sir! Thanks very much!
China's draft new 5-year plan indicates that space will be of growing importance to the country. Also noted:
- Planetary defense
- Solar system boundary exploration
- Major interplanetary & lunar missions
- integrated constellations (remote sensing, comms, PNT, computing, etc)
and much more
For your Eisteddfod only
Never Say Merthyr Again
LC-301 at Wenchang spaceport, built for the Long March 10 and China's crewed lunar landing missions.
m.weibo.cn/detail/52676...
Orienspace's Peng Haomin says the company is preparing for its next Gravity-1 solid rocket launch after Spring Festival and is also preparing for an IPO. Company will choose the right time to make the application. Source: m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/z...
Test stage recovered.
China's iSpace has announced a staggering $729 million (5 billion yuan) in D++ series funding. This appears to be the largest round so far for a Chinese launch company, despite a far from stellar launch record & no liquid rocket launch attempt to date. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/_Wz1_mQPKP...
A Jielong-3 lifted off at 0637 UTC today (Feb. 12) off the coast of Yangjiang City, Guangdong province, successfully sending the PRSC-EO2 satellite into orbit for Pakistan. This was China's 10th orbital launch attempt of 2026. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/TgY8u07_gD...
Actual link: mp.weixin.qq.com/s/TgY8u07_gD...
Chinese launch startup Space Epoch has secured series B funding, aims for debut fight of reusable YXZ-1 (Hiker-1) rocket later this year.
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/TgY8u07_gD...
That's the recovery vessel. It will use a wire system to catch the stage, which is required with grid fins and hooks.
The recovered Mengzhou.
Close-up of liftoff.
Stable descent and splashdown footage.
China performed a successful in-flight abort test of the Mengzhou crew spacecraft and a reentry, powered descent and splashdown of a first stage CZ-10A today. Big step for its lunar and human spaceflight programs
Mengzhou atop of the CZ-10A test stage. Grid fins and recovery hooks visible at the top of the stage, with people offering perspective of scale. Low-altitude test flight and abort test at maxQ scheduled for Feb. 11. m.weibo.cn/detail/52632...
These zones indicate this spaceplane (now all but confirmed thanks to a non-labelled satellite image from the company now known as Vantor, ex-Maxar) is making a 4th flight on yet another should-be-weird-looking Long March 2F. And again we are unlikely to get public info of it.
Quite a moment. Artemis 2, Long March 10A with Mengzhou, and Starship V3 all undergoing preparations, all with big implications for lunar ambitions.
Mengzhou now atop the CZ-10A low-altitude test stage.
