Andrew Jones

Behold: The US Defense Intelligence Agency has released a report on challenges to security in space, including an NEI image of China’s spaceplane from Maxar, taken in 2024.

China’s human Spaceflight agency has opened a call for payloads for an uncrewed flight of the Lanyue lunar lander ahead of a first crewed landing. No time frame for the mission announced. www.cmse.gov.cn/xwzx/202610/...

(Non-)update on Tianwen-2: CASC says the probe is conducting observations of Kamoʻoalewa in preparation for sampling. So no sampling, no details, no new images. 1:1 replicas of the main probe and return capsule will be on show at Zhuhai Airshow. www.stdaily.com/web/gdxw/202...

BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Francis Halzen “for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.” More to follow.

China's national day tomorrow. Wonder if the occasion will provoke the release of some new images from Tianwen-2...

Inspector Smile is ready for science! 🫡 This is Smile’s first ultraviolet view showing an auroral substorm. With the ultraviolet camera now operational, Smile becomes the first spacecraft since 2008 to capture the full ring of northern lights around the north pole in ultraviolet light. 🔭 🧪 ☀️

NASA has selected the 1st of a new class of astrophysics Explorer satellites, Probe Explorers, to continue into Phase B. PRIMA is a far-infrared mission with a $1.2 billion cost cap (not incl launch), with launch in 2033 if confirmed to proceed to Phase C. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

After engine hot fire test and funding round earlier this year, Spark Space recently completed tests on a first-stage oxidizer tank. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/70DTDK9pFO...

Yet another new Chinese launch company. Heng Space, led by a former chief designer from CALT, wants to develop 25 and 100 tonnes to LEO launchers. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FmfOasNmDM...

HKOR 100 kg robot for the Chang'e-8 mission from Hong Kong.

Galactic Energy earlier this year presented a chopsticks at sea recovery plan for its Pallas-2 (20-58 tons to LEO) rocket.

Looks like Chang'e-8, related payloads, and possibly China's wider moon program, are undergoing changes. This follows a merger seeing China's human spaceflight agency, already in charge of crewed lunar efforts, take control of robotic Chang'e missions, formerly overseen by CNSA.

Mission update: START passed and expert review in July and they're now building the spacecraft. Mass increased to 300kg, starting orbit will be 500 km, flying on a Zhuque-3 in early 2028.

At 0200 UTC today Galactic Energy's first Pallas-1 rocket lifted off from Jiuquan and successfully reached orbit. No stated payload, no first stage recovery attempt this time, but a big moment and step forward for the company. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mIAV8gstTY...

Tianwen-2 arrived at Kamo'oalewa nearly two months ago, and no updates since. Thankfully, space exploration historian Phil Stooke uncovered a few more pics from CNSA from the first encounter in early July. Hopefully an update soon.

Shenzhou-23 astronauts Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan competed a 5.5-hour EVA at 0359 UTC today. Tasks included external repair of Tiangong's solar panels and installation of space debris protection devices. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/OhnTIhrVw5...

Debut launch of Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 kerolox rocket set for early September 1 UTC from Jiuquan. No first stage recovery attempt expected.

The Chang'e-7 lunar south pole mission has been postponed into 2027, the China Manned Space Engineering Office, which also oversees the robotic program, has announced. Typically, no info given on next ideal launch window. www.cmse.gov.cn/xwzx/202608/...

Meanwhile, at Wenchang, the Long March 5 rocket to launch the Chang'e-7 lunar south pole landing mission is being rolled out.

Statement from Landspace. Successful booster recovery and Honghu 03 satellite sent into orbit. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/PPoU06ctr4...

Successful VTVL landing for Landspace with Zhuque-3 Y2. China's second second successful orbital booster recovery.

We know very little at this stage, but this happened early in the flight. If it's related to the YF-100 engines, then that's an issue for Chang'e-7, currently scheduled to launch August 24.

A Long March 7A rocket that lifted off from Wenchang around 12:00 UTC today carrying an unknown payload exploded around 85 seconds into the flight. www.youtube.com/live/GBj4IB6...

Me speculating that this could be another example of a "larger trend toward inspector satellites and an increased interest in having strong situational awareness of activities and hardware in GEO" spacenews.com/chinas-shiji...

Looks like there's a NOTAM out indicating that the launch window for the Chang'e-7 lunar south polar landing mission opens at 0000 UTC August 24. Windows of 0000-0400 running through August 31.

Former CNSA director Ma Xingrui expelled from Communist Party. apnews.com/article/chin...

The Long March 5 rocket to launch the Chang'e-7 lunar south polar landing mission has arrived at Wenchang spaceport. Launch could occur around late August. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kBXwck7GNe...

Onboard view of descent and views of the capture.

CASC confirms orbit was successfully achieved (unnamed satellite) and plans to reuse the first stage by the end of the year. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/cNqvOWxkwm...

This is big: China just launched the Long March 10B and caught the first stage out at sea with a net recovery system. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8VpyAMwNaV...

Tianwen-2 on HGA today and high data rate, likely more pictures and science data is coming...

That is not a normal rubble pile. Hmm...

relevant size comparison:

This is the image I've been waiting for! This is Earth's current quasi moon! There is a chance, this is a chunk of Moon that was cast off during an asteroid impact. YAY <insert muppet flail gif>

Launch 47: A Long March 8A lifted off at 1343 UTC today from Hainan commercial launch centre, sending the Qianfan polar group 15 LEO comms satellites into orbit. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Mp7Spec1o2...

Hayabusa2 is set to pass within 1 km of the centre of asteroid Torifune in ~80 minutes (0930 UTC, 0530 Eastern). Live stream: www.youtube.com/live/hVC3KP3...

This was China's 46th launch of 2026, following the Long March 4B launch of Haiyang-2E from Jiuquan on July 1.

On July 4, Tianwen-2 is expected to approach within 20 km of Kamoʻoalewa, marking the start of the mission's most critical phase after a 13-month journey from its May 2025 launch. Doppler measurements from our 20m Bochum antenna indicate no or only small orbit adjustments during the last few day.

JWST has taken a look at Kamo'oalewa, and we've got an interesting paper on this just in time. Fast rotator asteroid could be ~18m in diameter (ground-based estimates 40-100m), and hints that it's more like a rare E-type asteroid than a chunk of the Moon. arxiv.org/abs/2606.24017

Liaoning province wants to establish a commercial marine rocket launch base, following the example of Shandong's Haiyang sea launch setup. www.ln.gov.cn/web/zwgkx/zf... via mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ExPOjuvJ5J...