30 December 2022 Over the past two months since the basic configuration was formed, engineers and scientists have been carefully assessing all systems aboard the three-module combination to ensure its stable operation in the long term, as the project now moves to a new phase. Testing involved the information systems, energy, heating control, environmental control and life support to establish the basic configuration of three-module operation. MORE ..read more

29 December 2022 On 29 December China launched another and the final satellite of 2022 into space. The experiment satellite Shiyan 10-02 concludes a very busy Chinese space launch year. The CZ-3B lifted off at 12:43 BJT from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre and placed the Shiyan 10-02 into the pre-set orbit. The satellite will be used for in-orbit verification of new space technologies, such as space environment monitoring. The launch marked the 458th since the fleet's first flight in 1970. MORE ..read more

27 December 2022 On 27 December at 15:37 BJT, China launched the Gaofen 11-04 Earth observation satellite into space. The new satellite took off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on board a Long March-4B rocket. Gaofen 11-04, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, will transmit imagery and data be used in various fields, including land survey, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimates, and disaster prevention and reduction. The Gaofen project has established a space-based, high-resolution Earth observation network with dozens of Gaofen satellites in operation ..read more

24 December 2022 Was 2022 a good year for Chinese space activities? - is Jean Deville asking at the end of a (very) eventful year 2022 for Chinese space. Jean is reviewing the main highlights, discussing launch, progress on reusability, constellations, the completion of the Chinese Space Station, and more. With this last video of the Dongfang Hour channel in 2022, Jean is wishing everyone a happy and festive season! MORE ..read more

23 December 2022 China is also developing a next-generation manned launch vehicle that will meet the long-term strategic need for manned lunar exploration. It will be a 3 1/2 stage launcher. It will be capable of sending payloads of 25 t directly into LTO, or payloads of 70 t into near-Earth orbit, and it's expected to make a maiden flight by 2027. A new model of super heavy-lift carrier rocket - the Long March-9 - is also under development. It will be a 10-m-diameter, 3-stage mega rocket with a height of 110 m, capable of sending payloads of 150 t into LEO, 50 t into LTO and 35 t to the Mars ..read more

22 December 2022 2022 has been a (very) eventful year for the Chinese space programmes. In his last video for the year 2022, Jean Deville reviews the main highlights of Chinese space activities over the last 12 months. Jean is discussing launches, the progress on reusability, constellations, the completion of the Chinese Space Station, and more. MORE ..read more

20 December 2022 The Macao Student Science Satellite 1 was released from the cargo bay of the Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft on 18 December. The 12 kg mini satellite is tasked with helping students in Macao to learn about Earth imaging, radio communication and other spaceflight activities, according to the CMSA. The agency said that to make the best use of the carrying capacity of Tianzhou crafts, scientists have used them to transport several payloads of scientific equipment and mini satellites to orbit. It said future Tianzhou missions will also offer educational opportunities to researchers a ..read more

16 December 2022 On 16 December, at 14:17 BJT, the Shiyan 21 satellite was launched by a CZ-11 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. Shiyan means "experiment" in Chinese. The newly launched Shiyan satellite will be used for in-orbit verification of new space technologies. MORE ..read more

15 December 2022 On 15 December at 02:25 BJT, Yaogan 36 remote sensing satellite was launched by a CZ-2D from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. The satellite entered its planned orbit successfully. MORE ..read more

13 December 2022 Stargazer, doctor of astrophysics, promoter of astronomy and vlogger Liu Boyang captured the development of the space station assembly with a series of ground-based photography. For that, he developed an optical tracking program himself. With that, Liu was able to capture clear, close-up images of China's space station. He has made over 50 trips to carefully selected locations in more than 10 cities across China, largely at his own expense. He waits patiently for the few minutes when the space station zips across the night sky to get the best possible shot. MORE ..read more