Andrew Jones
@andrewjonesspace.bsky.social
Freelance journalist mainly tracking Chinese space activities. Correspondent at SpaceNews, also bylines at Spacedotcom, IEEE Spectrum and more.
Close-up of liftoff.
February 11, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Close-up of liftoff.
Stable descent and splashdown footage.
February 11, 2026 at 12:32 PM
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
February 11, 2026 at 7:13 AM
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...
February 6, 2026 at 6:09 AM
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...
Reposted by Andrew Jones
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.
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.
February 5, 2026 at 5:50 PM
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.
February 3, 2026 at 6:58 AM
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.
February 3, 2026 at 6:46 AM
Mengzhou now atop the CZ-10A low-altitude test stage.
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.
February 2, 2026 at 10:24 AM
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.
Mengzhou in-flight abort test at maxQ coming in February, it seems
February 1, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Mengzhou in-flight abort test at maxQ coming in February, it seems
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 in Europe, due to ground tracks & reentry estimates.
This is a spectacular view of the fiery descent and failed landing attempt of the Zhuque-3 first stage. m.weibo.cn/detail/52397...
January 30, 2026 at 4:12 PM
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 in Europe, due to ground tracks & reentry estimates.
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. www.cmse.gov.cn:8081/pub/trspoll/...
January 30, 2026 at 1:35 PM
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. www.cmse.gov.cn:8081/pub/trspoll/...
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.
January 30, 2026 at 1:22 PM
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.
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" major resource project)
- Space tourism
- Space-based digital infrastructure
- STM
- Space resource development (Inc. feasibility studies for "Tiangong Kaiwu" major resource project)
- Space tourism
- Space-based digital infrastructure
- STM
January 29, 2026 at 10:20 AM
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" major resource project)
- Space tourism
- Space-based digital infrastructure
- STM
- Space resource development (Inc. feasibility studies for "Tiangong Kaiwu" major resource project)
- Space tourism
- Space-based digital infrastructure
- STM
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).