Andrew Jones
Founder, Data Science Infinity; data careers, analytics platform skills
CZ-10A Test Stage Readied for Feb 11 Max‑Q Abort Flight
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. https://t.co/oht5CPXIVu https://t.co/7E3tRMolAk
Three Rockets Ready, Fueling the Next Lunar Race
Quite a moment. Artemis 2, Long March 10A with Mengzhou, and Starship V3 all undergoing preparations, all with big implications for lunar ambitions. https://t.co/ZA0tV6Nrei
China's Reusable Spaceplane Likely to Return Soon
We haven't heard from the Chinese reusable space plane for a good while (last mission ended in September 2024). Probably time soon for it to stretch its wings again.
Zhuque‑3 Second Stage Reenters over Southern Ocean, Sparks European Interest
The second stage of the first Zhuque-3 rocket launched in December reentered at 1239 UTC today (±1 min) over the Southern Ocean, according to a US Space Force TIP message. There was a surprising level of interest in the event...
China Invites Public to Vote on 2026 Mission Logos
China's human spaceflight agency has opened voting for mission logos for 2026 missions. Here are the 10 candidates for the Mengzhou mission, variously showing Mengzhou, the CZ-10A and Tiangong. https://t.co/MwsOHINj42 https://t.co/IfXUOm3G7u
CASC Completes 200‑second Test of 240‑ton Kerolox Engine
CASC has conducted a 200-second test of a 240-ton kerolox engine, designed for commercial users and developed for large and medium-sized reusable launch vehicles. https://t.co/rbGkvvK7Yf
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan Unveils Ambitious Space Agenda
An early insight into China's plans for space in its 15th Five-year plan, & it's certainly ambitious & long-term. Areas include: - Space resource development (Inc. feasibility studies for "Tiangong Kaiwu" (below)) - Space tourism - Space-based digital infrastructure - STM
Water Deluge System Tested for Lunar Landing Pad
Water deluge system test for a lunar crewed landing mission pad at Wenchang spaceport. Via Douyin/dyums21210av. https://t.co/PXJeBVKW4u
China Endures Two Rocket Failures in 24 Hours
China has suffered 2 launch failures within hours of each other. A Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang at 1655 UTC Jan. 16, but Shijian-32 was lost after a 3rd stage anomaly. The debut launch of the solid Ceres-2...
China's Long March 12B Kerolox Rocket Passes Static Fire
And out of nowhere, while Long March 10 series tests are being readied at Wenchang, the reusable Long March 12B has had a successful static fire test today at Jiuquan. This is a kerolox rocket, while the recently debuted 12A...
China Launches Ceres‑1 From Barge, Deploying Four Satellites
China's 2nd launch of the day & 4th of the year: a Ceres-1 solid rocket lifted off from a barge off the coast of Shandong province at 2010 UTC (Jan. 15), successfully sending 4 Tianqi Constellation satellites into 850 km,...
Damaged Shenzhou‑20 Set for Uncrewed Reentry Jan 19
Shenzhou-20 update: there's an airspace closure notice suggesting the damaged Shenzhou-20 crew spacecraft will attempt reentry and landing between 0120-0150 UTC on Jan. 19. Will be uncrewed, of course, but will be interesting to see how it holds up.
CAS Space Achieves Suborbital Launch, Reaches 120 Km
CCTV reports that CAS Space today successfully conducted a suborbital launch and landing of its Lihong-1 vehicle, potentially reaching 120 kilometres in altitude. Awaiting footage. https://t.co/mIJBMGTuNz https://t.co/iTmxf4N2E8
Long March 8A Fairing Likely Launched on Christmas
Possibly the payload fairing from the Long March 8A launched from Wenchang on Christmas Day (UTC).
China's Xuntian Telescope to Probe Dark Universe 2027
The Chinese Space Station Telescope, or Xuntian, is set to launch in 2027. Science objectives include sky survey, revealing characteristics of dark energy, cosmic structure of dark matter, evolution of the Milky Way, directly imaging exoplanets. Will co-orbit with Tiangong....
