Asia
Tianzhou-3 spacecraft docks with Chinese space station
China's Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft docked in orbit with the Tianhe space station module Monday following launch from the coastal Wenchang launch center.
Shenzhou-12 astronauts return to Earth after 3-month space station mission
Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth Sept. 17 after completing the first crewed mission aboard the Tianhe space station module.
China rolls out cargo mission rocket as Shenzhou-12 astronauts leave space station
China is preparing to launch its second space station cargo mission just as its Shenzhou-12 astronauts are set to return to Earth.
‘Taiwan must secure a strategic position in space industry’s supply chain’: president
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Sept. 14 the country “must secure a strategic position in the space industry’s supply chain” by leveraging its competitive edge in semiconductor and precision engineering.
South Korea seeks $553 million space budget for 2022
In a bid to nurture its nascent domestic space sector, South Korea is seeking a 640 billion won ($553 million) annual space budget for 2022. If granted in full, it would amount to a 4 percent increase from this year’s 615 billion won.
SpaceX’s Starlink broadband to be available in Japan’s remote areas next year
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband service will be available in Japan’s remote areas starting in 2022.
China launches ChinaSat-9B broadcast satellite
China conducted its 33rd launch of 2021 early Thursday, successfully sending the ChinaSat-9B communications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit.
Korean consortium invested $50 million in US launch startup Relativity Space
The $50 million invested by a South Korean consortium was part of $650 million Relativity Space raised in a Series E funding round in June.
South Korea to spend $593 million on public-to-private transfer of rocket technologies
Starting next year, South Korea’s government will transfer state-owned space launch vehicle technologies to domestic aerospace companies in a move to help them penetrate an expanding global space launch market.
China’s Chang’e-5 orbiter is heading back to the moon
The Chang’e-5 orbiter module which facilitated China’s complex lunar sample return last year is on its way to the moon following deep space tests.
China is developing its own Mars helicopter
China is looking at ways of expanding its space exploration capabilities including through a vehicle similar in appearance to NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter.
US, South Korea agree to enhance security cooperation in outer space
South Korea’s air force will join U.S. Space Force-led joint military drills aimed at bolstering the latter’s defense capabilities in outer space.
China researching challenges of kilometer-scale ultra-large spacecraft
The National Natural Science Foundation of China has outlined a five-year project for researchers to study the assembly of ultra-large spacecraft.
Chinese commercial sector investment lagging in 2021
China’s commercial space sector has been expanding rapidly ever since the central government opened space to private capital, but activity appears to be slowing.
OneWeb’s antenna supplier in South Korea expanding production to meet growing demand for LEO broadband terminals
OneWeb supplier Intellian Technologies says it will begin building a second manufacturing plant in October to keep up with growing demand for LEO broadband user terminals. The new plant is expected to open in May.
Astronauts conduct second Chinese space station spacewalk
Two Chinese astronauts embarked on a second Shenzhou-12 spacewalk late Thursday to carry out work on a space station robotic arm.
