Andrew Jones
@andrewjonesspace.bsky.social
Freelance journalist mainly tracking Chinese space activities. Correspondent at SpaceNews, also bylines at Spacedotcom, IEEE Spectrum and more.
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.
Launch window open. No live stream, being a CASC attempt. We'll have to wait for unofficial and official news.
December 23, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Launch window open. No live stream, being a CASC attempt. We'll have to wait for unofficial and official news.
Long March 12A set for debut launch and landing attempt early tomorrow. ~2 hour launch window opens 0154 UTC Dec. 23 (8:54 pm EST Dec. 22) according to airspace closure notice.
December 22, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Long March 12A set for debut launch and landing attempt early tomorrow. ~2 hour launch window opens 0154 UTC Dec. 23 (8:54 pm EST Dec. 22) according to airspace closure notice.
Reposted by Andrew Jones
1/n
2 NEW epic images of Phobos over Mars just released by @esa.int Mars Express
This view is especially striking, with Phobos between the Tharsis volcanoes and Noctis Labyrinthus–Valles Marineris
Full resolution 300MP(!) & info on: flic.kr/p/2rMW4so
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY 🧪🔭
2 NEW epic images of Phobos over Mars just released by @esa.int Mars Express
This view is especially striking, with Phobos between the Tharsis volcanoes and Noctis Labyrinthus–Valles Marineris
Full resolution 300MP(!) & info on: flic.kr/p/2rMW4so
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY 🧪🔭
December 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
1/n
2 NEW epic images of Phobos over Mars just released by @esa.int Mars Express
This view is especially striking, with Phobos between the Tharsis volcanoes and Noctis Labyrinthus–Valles Marineris
Full resolution 300MP(!) & info on: flic.kr/p/2rMW4so
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY 🧪🔭
2 NEW epic images of Phobos over Mars just released by @esa.int Mars Express
This view is especially striking, with Phobos between the Tharsis volcanoes and Noctis Labyrinthus–Valles Marineris
Full resolution 300MP(!) & info on: flic.kr/p/2rMW4so
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY 🧪🔭
A Long March 5 lifted off at 1230 UTC today, successfully sending the TJS-23 experimental communications satellite into orbit. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/R8F0Pz-bCQ...
December 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A Long March 5 lifted off at 1230 UTC today, successfully sending the TJS-23 experimental communications satellite into orbit. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/R8F0Pz-bCQ...
Live views of a Long March 5 set to launch from Wenchang
weibo.com/l/wblive/m/s...
weibo.com/l/wblive/m/s...
December 20, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Live views of a Long March 5 set to launch from Wenchang
weibo.com/l/wblive/m/s...
weibo.com/l/wblive/m/s...
It's Friday, it's almost the holidays, but you remember there's still a load of Chinese launches still to come...
a man with his hands on his head is smiling and looking at the camera
ALT: a man with his hands on his head is smiling and looking at the camera
media.tenor.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It's Friday, it's almost the holidays, but you remember there's still a load of Chinese launches still to come...
Rumour is that the second Zhuque-3 is scheduled for April 2026. Below: grid fins retrieved grim the wreckage of the Zhuque-3 Y1 landing attempt.
December 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Rumour is that the second Zhuque-3 is scheduled for April 2026. Below: grid fins retrieved grim the wreckage of the Zhuque-3 Y1 landing attempt.
Turns out there were two male mice launched on the DEAR-5 cargo spacecraft for neuroscience research. Spacecraft is planned to operate in orbit for one year and is not rated for reentry, so it's game over at some point for the rodents. Video is prelaunch. news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/202...
December 18, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Turns out there were two male mice launched on the DEAR-5 cargo spacecraft for neuroscience research. Spacecraft is planned to operate in orbit for one year and is not rated for reentry, so it's game over at some point for the rodents. Video is prelaunch. news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/202...
Hainan commercial spaceport aims to host 20-30 launches in 2026. A quick count shows 8 so far this year. news.cctv.com/2025/12/17/A...
December 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Hainan commercial spaceport aims to host 20-30 launches in 2026. A quick count shows 8 so far this year. news.cctv.com/2025/12/17/A...
Long March 12A first flight delayed. New date TBA.
Two weeks on from Zhuque-3, we'll get China's 2nd orbital launch and landing attempt, this time by the Long March 12A from state-owned CASC. Airspace closure notices indicate a launch window of 0154 - 0414 UTC, Dec. 17.
December 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Long March 12A first flight delayed. New date TBA.
And another: Beijing Linghang Xingjian Technology Co., Ltd., planning xingzhou-1 (starship-1/star vessel-1) fully reusable "AI-assisted" launcher with "intelligent net/grid recovery". Very early stage, only conceptual claims, very ambitiously aiming for 2027 debut fight. Wild.
December 14, 2025 at 7:23 AM
And another: Beijing Linghang Xingjian Technology Co., Ltd., planning xingzhou-1 (starship-1/star vessel-1) fully reusable "AI-assisted" launcher with "intelligent net/grid recovery". Very early stage, only conceptual claims, very ambitiously aiming for 2027 debut fight. Wild.
Two weeks on from Zhuque-3, we'll get China's 2nd orbital launch and landing attempt, this time by the Long March 12A from state-owned CASC. Airspace closure notices indicate a launch window of 0154 - 0414 UTC, Dec. 17.
December 12, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Two weeks on from Zhuque-3, we'll get China's 2nd orbital launch and landing attempt, this time by the Long March 12A from state-owned CASC. Airspace closure notices indicate a launch window of 0154 - 0414 UTC, Dec. 17.
Long March 12 launch at 2300 UTC Dec. 11 was successful. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kK6OdoTh2s...
December 12, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Long March 12 launch at 2300 UTC Dec. 11 was successful. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kK6OdoTh2s...
China's 84th orbital launch attempt of 2025 coming up in just over an hour at ~2300 UTC from Hainan. This time, a Long March 12, likely carrying the 16th group of Guowang satellites. Possible stream: live.bilibili.com/23118988?liv...
December 11, 2025 at 9:57 PM
China's 84th orbital launch attempt of 2025 coming up in just over an hour at ~2300 UTC from Hainan. This time, a Long March 12, likely carrying the 16th group of Guowang satellites. Possible stream: live.bilibili.com/23118988?liv...
Relentless. China's 83rd launch of the year is scheduled for ~0400 UTC Wednesday, this time a Kinetica-1 solid rocket from CAS Space. A nano satellite developed by Nepali students to be among the payloads.
A Long March 3B lifted off at 1508 UTC , successfully carrying the comms tech experiment satellite TJS-22 into a preset orbit, according to CASC. That's 3 launches inside 24 hours, which I think is a first for China. Sun Wukong/Monkey King on the patch. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/SvVlVYo2F0...
December 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Relentless. China's 83rd launch of the year is scheduled for ~0400 UTC Wednesday, this time a Kinetica-1 solid rocket from CAS Space. A nano satellite developed by Nepali students to be among the payloads.