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SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt

Chinese launch startup Space Epoch has closed a B‑round of financing as it prepares for its first orbital launch and booster recovery attempt in 2026. The funding will support vehicle testing, manufacturing scale‑up and development of recovery systems ahead of a planned late‑2026 flight.

2026-02-17T10:13:11.075499-08:00

Universe Today

Chang'e-6 Far-Side Samples Challenge Late Heavy Bombardment Hypothesis

2026-02-17T06:53:03.209781-08:00

Bloomberg

SpaceX Outpacing China's Ambition for 203,000 'Paper' Satellites

2026-02-16T01:00:31.482533-08:00

SpaceNews.com

China tests Mengzhou in‑flight abort and Long March‑10 booster recovery, advancing 2030 crewed‑Moon push

2026-02-11T02:34:54.065105-08:00

Hype Analysis

China's Aviation Industry in September 2024: Key Developments and Trends

October 3, 2024 - China's aviation industry in September 2024 expanded international routes, advanced the COMAC C919, and navigated competitive pressures. Read More.

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt Chinese launch startup Space Epoch has closed a B‑round of financing as it prepares for its first orbital launch and booster recovery attempt in 2026. The funding will support vehicle testing, manufacturing scale‑up and development of recovery systems ahead of a planned late‑2026 flight.

2026-02-17T10:13:11.075499-08:00

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt

Universe Today

Chang'e-6 Far-Side Samples Challenge Late Heavy Bombardment Hypothesis Analyses of lunar material returned by China's Chang'e-6 offer the first close-up view of far-side geology, and a Science Advances paper from the Chinese Academy of Sciences reports findings that question the timing and intensity of the Moon's Late Heavy Bombardment, with implications for solar-system impact history.

2026-02-17T06:53:03.209781-08:00

Chang'e-6 Far-Side Samples Challenge Late Heavy Bombardment Hypothesis

SpaceNews.com

Zenk Space completes first-stage static fire of Zhihang-1 ahead of planned launch Low-profile Chinese launch startup Zenk Space has completed a first-stage static-fire test of its Zhihang-1 rocket, a key pre-launch milestone as the company prepares for a planned orbital mission. The test advances vehicle readiness and highlights rising activity among China’s emerging commercial launch firms.

2026-02-16T04:04:33.424059-08:00

Zenk Space completes first-stage static fire of Zhihang-1 ahead of planned launch

Bloomberg

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SpaceX Outpacing China's Ambition for 203,000 'Paper' Satellites New analysis shows SpaceX is outpacing Chinese plans to field up to 203,000 proposed 'paper' satellites, underscoring a widening commercial and operational gap as Starlink's rapid deployments and a potential financing pivot accelerate U.S. constellation scale while China expands domestic launch capacity.

2026-02-16T01:00:31.482533-08:00

SpaceX Outpacing China's Ambition for 203,000 'Paper' Satellites

New York Times

Satellite imagery reveals China’s mountain nuclear buildup New satellite imagery identifies expanded, secretive nuclear facilities carved into China’s mountains, indicating Beijing is accelerating its nuclear arsenal build-up just as international arms‑control guardrails weaken. The analysis signals a measurable shift in strategic posture with implications for regional deterrence and force planning.

2026-02-14T21:24:37.069391-08:00

Satellite imagery reveals China’s mountain nuclear buildup

SpaceNews.com

New book maps how China, lunar ambitions and commercial players are reshaping space A new book examines the converging forces that are remaking the space domain: China’s rapid industrial and state-backed expansion, renewed lunar ambitions and the commercialisation of orbital services. It traces how policy, capital and technology are realigning strategic competition and market opportunities across civil and military space.

2026-02-13T15:13:40.511032-08:00

New book maps how China, lunar ambitions and commercial players are reshaping space

Ars Technica

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Orbex exits as Skyrora eyes assets while China’s reusable-rocket milestone tightens SpaceX price pressure UK small-launcher Orbex has exited the market, prompting rival Skyrora to explore buying its assets. The move follows China’s successful reusable-booster test — called a ‘significant milestone’ — as SpaceX’s aggressive pricing forces a strategic rethink across commercial launch suppliers.

2026-02-13T04:10:26.399521-08:00

Orbex exits as Skyrora eyes assets while China’s reusable-rocket milestone tightens SpaceX price pressure

SpaceNews.com

iSpace raises $729M in record D++ round to accelerate reusable orbital rockets China’s iSpace secured a record D++ funding round of $729 million to accelerate development of reusable orbital rockets and expand its industrial footprint. The capital aims to scale hardware, testing and recovery capabilities as Beijing’s commercial sector pushes rapidly toward reusability.

2026-02-13T03:33:32.498552-08:00

iSpace raises $729M in record D++ round to accelerate reusable orbital rockets

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China News

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt

Chang'e-6 Far-Side Samples Challenge Late Heavy Bombardment Hypothesis

SpaceX Outpacing China's Ambition for 203,000 'Paper' Satellites

China tests Mengzhou in‑flight abort and Long March‑10 booster recovery, advancing 2030 crewed‑Moon push

Hype Analysis

China's Aviation Industry in September 2024: Key Developments and Trends

News Timeline