Andrew Jones
@AJ_FI
Journalist tracking China's space programme. Correspondent at @SpaceNews_Inc; @SPACEdotcom @exploreplanets @IEEESpectrum
Space Pionner has completed the launch pad rehearsal at JSLC (with the mock up rocket).
An aerial view of the Tianlong-3 launch complex in Jiuquan.
Space Pionner has completed the launch pad rehearsal at JSLC (with the mock up rocket).
Happy to present this ephemeris stacking 3I/ATLAS image with my 0.28m scope, total exposure 36mins. Even more intriguing is identifying it in such dense stellar field near the galactic plane!
Galactic Energy aims for first launches of the Ceres-2 solid rocket and kerosene-lox Pallas-1 (7t to LEO) later this year. They are also working larger Pallas-2 (20t & 58t to LEO). mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2vFLCziZ9p43…
The joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) SMILE mission to study the Sun–Earth connection is ready for space after a series of tests. Launch in 2026. esa.int/Science_Explor…
CALT has conducted a static-dynamic load test for an unspecified launch vehicle, likely to be the Long March 10. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/18Zp1lArIjRF…
Launch of Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft to Tiangong space station expected in under 15 minutes on a Long March 7 from Wenchang. Coverage now available here: youtube.com/live/2PuO0QARu…
Xichang hopes its commercial spaceport will take shape by 2026. By 2030, it aims to achieve an annual launch capacity of 1,000 satellites and a commercial aerospace industry cluster worth 100 billion yuan ($14bn). sc.people.com.cn/n2/2025/0708/c…
Oh yeah, Xichang spaceport looks to be getting a commercial expansion, while Guangdong is the latest province to unveil a commercial space action plan... spacenews.com/xichang-to-bui…
Tianzhou-9: A Long March 7 rocket was rolled out at Wenchang today in preparation for launching the next cargo mission to Tiangong. Launch ~21:40 UTC on July 14 (0540 Beijing time, July 15) mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xgG9X4RLo-jn…
Outrageous images of China's Shijian-26, an apparent new-gen Earth observation satellite, from Maxar. SSD of 1.9 cm. linkedin.com/posts/susanne-…
Outrageous images of China's Shijian-26, an apparent new-gen Earth observation satellite, from Maxar. SSD of 1.9 cm. linkedin.com/posts/susanne-…
Space Pioneer has completed a static test for a redesigned engine bay for its Tianlong-3 rocket, structural weakness of which was stated as the cause of the infamous dynamic static fire on 30.6 last year. No indication of launch timeframe with this update. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iUM_KHn8k5XO…
Outrageous images of China's Shijian-26, an apparent new-gen Earth observation satellite, from Maxar. SSD of 1.9 cm. linkedin.com/posts/susanne-…
Test flight of Zero rocket slips to 2027
Japan’s Interstellar secures $62 million in series F funding spacenews.com/japans-interst…
From Longjiang-2, launched along with the first Queqiao satellite in May 2018. Image taken in February 2019. Wei Mingchuan/HIT.
The far side of the Moon and the distant Earth, from the Chang'e-6 lunar sample mission. Credit: Chunlai Li/Jianjun Liu/Wei Yang/GRAS/ NAOC