SpaceNews.com
• Andrew Jones
China has publicly outlined plans for its first crewed Moon landing, targeted before 2030, involving two rocket launches, an orbital rendezvous and major testing of three spacecraft systems. Hardware for a key initial flight test appears to have arrived at Wenchang spaceport. The plan does not include an Apollo 8- or Artemis II-style crewed lunar-orbit mission.
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China has publicly outlined plans for its first crewed Moon landing, targeted before 2030, involving two rocket launches, an orbital rendezvous and major testing of three spacecraft systems. Hardware for a key initial flight test appears to have arrived at Wenchang spaceport. The plan does not include an Apollo 8- or Artemis II-style crewed lunar-orbit mission.
Three years after first displaying a model of its CE-25A electric aircraft, COMAC may have built a full-scale demonstrator, according to a report. The available information does not establish the aircraft’s status, capabilities or intended role, leaving the project’s development stage uncertain.
China claims its Hongdu GJ-11 unmanned combat air vehicle has taken off and landed aboard a new amphibious assault ship, demonstrating a shipborne operating capability. The report offers no further details on the test, including when it occurred or the aircraft’s operational status.
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China will conduct a standalone mission of its Lanyue lunar lander, followed by a full-scale uncrewed landing rehearsal, before attempting to put astronauts on the moon before 2030. The test campaign lays out key steps toward the country’s crewed lunar landing goal.
The US Air Force has tested new autonomous mission systems on its XQ-67A demonstrator, while China says its GJ-21 unmanned combat aircraft completed takeoff and landing tests aboard the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan. Separately, TEKEVER won a USSOCOM order for AI-enabled ISR drones, and Saab and GA-ASI tested an unmanned airborne early warning capability on the MQ-9B.
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Chinese state media says the GJ-21 stealth attack drone has completed its first takeoff and landing aboard the amphibious assault ship Sichuan, calling it a breakthrough in the ship program. The reported milestone follows more than a year of signs that China was preparing to demonstrate ship-based operations for the aircraft.
China’s commercial launch provider Landspace has topped a tender to launch an unidentified spacecraft, reported to be the Haolong reusable cargo spaceplane intended to serve the Tiangong space station. The award links a private launch provider with a spacecraft program supporting China’s crewed orbital infrastructure.
After 25 years of rapid progress that narrowed the gap with the United States, China is entering a new phase of space competition. Its stated ambition for the next quarter-century is not merely to match US capabilities, but to move ahead.
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Hype's China news stream aggregates the latest developments and strategic movements within China's aerospace and defense sectors. Our coverage includes advancements in aircraft manufacturing, space exploration initiatives, and the evolving role of China in the global aerospace market, providing professionals with the critical information needed to understand this major player's impact on international dynamics.
