Asia
UAE rover to fly on China’s Chang’e-7 lunar south pole mission
The United Arab Emirates will fly its Rashid 2 rover on China’s 2026 Chang’e-7 lunar landing mission following an agreement between the two countries.
Shanghai rocket maker considering developing huge methane-fueled rockets
A major arm of China’s state-owned space contractor is looking at developing a series of partially and fully-reusable launch vehicles apparently in response to SpaceX’s Starship.
China launches Zhongxing-1E military communications satellite
China launched a Long March 7A rocket Tuesday, successfully inserting the Zhongxing-1E satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit.
Competition is growing in the space-data-relay sector
Companies reveal plans for optical and RF data relay networks to address growing demand from satellite operators for high-speed data transfer.
Private Chinese satellite internet firm GalaxySpace secures major new funding
Chinese satellite internet startup GalaxySpace has raised new funding which the company says puts its value at $1.58 billion.
India’s Skyroot Aerospace raises $51 million ahead of inaugural launch
Skyroot Aerospace says the round will fund “infrastructure and initial developmental launches, enabling us to achieve commercial operations next year.”
South Korean lunar orbiter succeeds in critical trajectory correction maneuver
South Korea’s first robotic lunar orbiter is looping back to the moon from the L1 Lagrange point after successfully conducting a critical trajectory correction maneuver Sept. 2, a milestone in its voyage toward the moon.
China performs two launches inside two hours
China conducted its 36th and 37th orbital launches of 2022 within a couple of hours of each other starting late Monday, using the Jiuquan and Xichang spaceports.
China begins launch campaign for final space station module
Work to assemble a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket is underway at Wenchang spaceport as China prepares to complete the construction of its Tiangong space station.
Chinese megawatt-level space nuclear reactor passes review
A Chinese nuclear reactor for providing power and propulsion in outer space has passed a comprehensive performance evaluation, according to reports.
South Korea seeks $459 million for lunar lander project
South Korea seeks a $459 million budget to build a 1.8-ton robotic lunar lander, which it wants to send to the moon in 2031 for a one-year mission on the nation’s next-generation carrier rocket under development.
China plans to make aging Long March rocket reusable and non-toxic
China’s main space contractor plans to revamp a highly successful, 30-year-old Long March rocket model to adapt to the trend towards reusability in the launch sector.
China makes progress in reusability with secretive second flight of suborbital spaceplane
China has performed its first repeated use of a suborbital spaceplane as part of efforts to develop a fully reusable space transportation system.
China claims progress on rockets for crewed lunar landings and moon base
China is progressing with the development of two super heavy-lift rockets for crewed missions and infrastructure launches to the moon, according to officials.
China’s spaceplane remains in orbit but clues emerge from recovered launch debris
A Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft remains in orbit nearly two weeks after launch, despite passing directly over its expected landing site early Monday.
