Andrew Jones
@andrewjonesspace.bsky.social
Freelance journalist mainly tracking Chinese space activities. Correspondent at SpaceNews, also bylines at Spacedotcom, IEEE Spectrum and more.
Water deluge system test for a lunar crewed landing mission pad at Wenchang spaceport. Via Douyin/dyums21210av.
January 22, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Water deluge system test for a lunar crewed landing mission pad at Wenchang spaceport. Via Douyin/dyums21210av.
Shenzhou-20 landed safely at 0134 UTC today, with a patched up debris-damaged window. Shenzhou-23, which will provide emergency backup to the crew currently aboard Tiangong , has arrived at Jiuquan, with its CZ-2F launcher following soon.
January 19, 2026 at 6:23 AM
Shenzhou-20 landed safely at 0134 UTC today, with a patched up debris-damaged window. Shenzhou-23, which will provide emergency backup to the crew currently aboard Tiangong , has arrived at Jiuquan, with its CZ-2F launcher following soon.
Video of the ~20 second Long March 12B static fire.
January 18, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Video of the ~20 second Long March 12B static fire.
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 satellite was lost after a 3rd stage anomaly. The debut launch of the solid Ceres-2 from Jiuquan at 0408 UTC Jan. 17 also failed.
January 17, 2026 at 8:05 AM
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 satellite was lost after a 3rd stage anomaly. The debut launch of the solid Ceres-2 from Jiuquan at 0408 UTC Jan. 17 also failed.
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 is methalox.
January 16, 2026 at 10:12 AM
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 is methalox.
The Shenzhou-20 crew appeared at a presser today, 63 days after landing in SZ-21. Astronauts discovered a triangular crack in SZ-20's return module window during a final pre-return check. Chen Dong sent images to Earth, triggering China's 1st human spaceflight emergency response.
January 16, 2026 at 9:34 AM
The Shenzhou-20 crew appeared at a presser today, 63 days after landing in SZ-21. Astronauts discovered a triangular crack in SZ-20's return module window during a final pre-return check. Chen Dong sent images to Earth, triggering China's 1st human spaceflight emergency response.
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, 45° orbits.
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/-hSL8lWkhe...
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/-hSL8lWkhe...
January 15, 2026 at 9:01 PM
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, 45° orbits.
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/-hSL8lWkhe...
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/-hSL8lWkhe...
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.
The Shenzhou-21 crew will be embarking on their first EVA in the coming days (quite possibly tomorrow), according to China's human spaceflight agency. Let's see if they go patch that crack in the Shenzhou-20 window. www.cmse.gov.cn/xwzx/202512/...
January 14, 2026 at 10:59 AM
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.
An interesting start to what will likely be a year of more than 100 launches from China.
China’s first launches of 2026 send Yaogan spacecraft into unusual orbit, loft Guowang satellites
China conducted a pair of Long March rocket launches Tuesday, kicking off what is likely to be a record-breaking year for the country.
China conducted a pair of Long March rocket launches Tuesday, kicking off what is likely to be a record-breaking year for the country.
China’s first launches of 2026 send Yaogan spacecraft into unusual orbit, loft Guowang satellites
China conducted a pair of Long March rocket launches Tuesday, kicking off what is likely to be a record-breaking year for the country.
spacenews.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:52 AM
An interesting start to what will likely be a year of more than 100 launches from China.
Images of the first Lihong-1 flight from CAS Space. Parachute for capsule worked, stage landed successfully. Fight carried the microgravity laser additive manufacturing recoverable scientific experiment payload ( LAM-MG-R1) from CAS institute of mechanics
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/v-nDF-0XGR...
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/v-nDF-0XGR...
January 12, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Images of the first Lihong-1 flight from CAS Space. Parachute for capsule worked, stage landed successfully. Fight carried the microgravity laser additive manufacturing recoverable scientific experiment payload ( LAM-MG-R1) from CAS institute of mechanics
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/v-nDF-0XGR...
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/v-nDF-0XGR...
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. content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/in...
January 12, 2026 at 8:45 AM
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. content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/in...
Possibly the payload fairing from the Long March 8A launched from Wenchang on Christmas Day (UTC).
January 7, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Possibly the payload fairing from the Long March 8A launched from Wenchang on Christmas Day (UTC).
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.
January 7, 2026 at 9:23 AM
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.
Landspace has had its IPO application accepted by the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The company is seeking to raise 7.5 billion yuan (~US$1 bn). This follows a Dec. 26 decision to ease IPO rules for commercial rocket companies in China. wap.eastmoney.com/a/2025123136...
December 31, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Landspace has had its IPO application accepted by the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The company is seeking to raise 7.5 billion yuan (~US$1 bn). This follows a Dec. 26 decision to ease IPO rules for commercial rocket companies in China. wap.eastmoney.com/a/2025123136...
Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 is almost ready for its first fight.
December 31, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 is almost ready for its first fight.
China has a record of releasing some epic deep space imagery around its national day (Tianwen-1 below) and new year's day. Let's see if we'll get something new tomorrow from Tianwen-2 as it heads for asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3). And have a great New Year's Eve, everyone!
December 31, 2025 at 9:48 AM
China has a record of releasing some epic deep space imagery around its national day (Tianwen-1 below) and new year's day. Let's see if we'll get something new tomorrow from Tianwen-2 as it heads for asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3). And have a great New Year's Eve, everyone!
Reposted by Andrew Jones
Perseverance continues science mission amid uncertainty about Mars Sample Return
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is continuing its mission to collect samples despite uncertainty about how, when or even if those samples will be returned to Earth.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is continuing its mission to collect samples despite uncertainty about how, when or even if those samples will be returned to Earth.
Perseverance continues science mission amid uncertainty about Mars Sample Return
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is continuing its mission to collect samples despite uncertainty about how, when or even if those samples will be returned to Earth.
spacenews.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Perseverance continues science mission amid uncertainty about Mars Sample Return
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is continuing its mission to collect samples despite uncertainty about how, when or even if those samples will be returned to Earth.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is continuing its mission to collect samples despite uncertainty about how, when or even if those samples will be returned to Earth.
Two launches for China within the last day. A Long March 8A lifted off at 2326 UTC Dec. 25 from Hainan carrying Guowang sats, & at 1607 UTC today (Dec. 26), a Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang carrying the Fengyun-4C weather sat. 90 launches in 2025. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jXFhqkTV-y...
December 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Two launches for China within the last day. A Long March 8A lifted off at 2326 UTC Dec. 25 from Hainan carrying Guowang sats, & at 1607 UTC today (Dec. 26), a Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang carrying the Fengyun-4C weather sat. 90 launches in 2025. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jXFhqkTV-y...
Another rocket debut coming up: the Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket from Chinese startup Galactic Energy is set for launch from Jiuquan at ~0400 UTC Dec. 27.
December 24, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Another rocket debut coming up: the Vega C-class Ceres-2 solid rocket from Chinese startup Galactic Energy is set for launch from Jiuquan at ~0400 UTC Dec. 27.
The state of this reentry and descent of the Long March 12A is something to behold. But despite this failed attempt, the key point is that Chinese reusable launchers are coming.
December 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The state of this reentry and descent of the Long March 12A is something to behold. But despite this failed attempt, the key point is that Chinese reusable launchers are coming.
Reposted by Andrew Jones
Long March 12A reaches orbit in first reusable launch attempt, but landing fails
A first launch of the Long March 12A Chinese state-owned reusable rocket reached orbit late Monday, but attempted recovery of the first stage downrange failed.
A first launch of the Long March 12A Chinese state-owned reusable rocket reached orbit late Monday, but attempted recovery of the first stage downrange failed.
Long March 12A reaches orbit in first reusable launch attempt, but landing fails
A first launch of the Long March 12A Chinese state-owned reusable rocket reached orbit late Monday, but attempted recovery of the first stage downrange failed.
spacenews.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Long March 12A reaches orbit in first reusable launch attempt, but landing fails
A first launch of the Long March 12A Chinese state-owned reusable rocket reached orbit late Monday, but attempted recovery of the first stage downrange failed.
A first launch of the Long March 12A Chinese state-owned reusable rocket reached orbit late Monday, but attempted recovery of the first stage downrange failed.
Launch success confirmed.
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Launch success confirmed.
Meanwhile, first fight of Hanbit-Nano from South Korean company Innospace came to a fiery end shortly after launch. youtu.be/1bwxWcym32I?...
December 23, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Meanwhile, first fight of Hanbit-Nano from South Korean company Innospace came to a fiery end shortly after launch. youtu.be/1bwxWcym32I?...
Another launch video of CZ-12A. Awaiting official reports, but reportedly reached orbit, first stage landing failed.
December 23, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Another launch video of CZ-12A. Awaiting official reports, but reportedly reached orbit, first stage landing failed.
