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Universe Today • Mark Thompson

China lays out busiest 2026 space manifest — crewed flights, year‑long solo mission and lunar push

Beijing has published a stepped‑up 2026 spaceflight plan featuring two crewed missions, a cargo resupply, a planned year‑long solo endurance experiment and the first Tiangong flight carrying astronauts from Hong Kong or Macao; parallel hypersonic tests and reusable‑rocket trials accelerate Beijing’s timeline toward a crewed lunar landing.

2026-03-11T03:38:46.974388-07:00

SpaceNews.com

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications

2026-03-11T03:32:22.947404-07:00

Reuters

Archer files counterclaim accusing Joby of defrauding U.S. government and hiding China ties in eVTOL contract dispute

2026-03-09T23:39:14.763056-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Landspace completes long‑duration hot‑fire of 220‑ton methane engine as it pursues heavy‑lift rockets

2026-03-10T04:47:22.981882-07:00

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

Universe Today

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China lays out busiest 2026 space manifest — crewed flights, year‑long solo mission and lunar push Beijing has published a stepped‑up 2026 spaceflight plan featuring two crewed missions, a cargo resupply, a planned year‑long solo endurance experiment and the first Tiangong flight carrying astronauts from Hong Kong or Macao; parallel hypersonic tests and reusable‑rocket trials accelerate Beijing’s timeline toward a crewed lunar landing.

2026-03-11T03:38:46.974388-07:00

China lays out busiest 2026 space manifest — crewed flights, year‑long solo mission and lunar push

SpaceNews.com

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications Shanghai-based laser communications startup BlueStar Optical Domain has raised about $70 million in a Series C round. The large financing signals a scale-up of China’s laser satellite communications sector and rising demand from domestic satellite‑internet constellation builders seeking high‑capacity intersatellite and ground links.

2026-03-11T03:32:22.947404-07:00

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications

The War Zone

Serbian MiG-29s photographed carrying Chinese CM-400 supersonic air-to-ground missiles Photographs show Serbian Air Force MiG-29 fighters armed with the Chinese-made CM-400 supersonic air-to-ground standoff missile, a system until now publicly observed only in Pakistani service. The images are the first open evidence of CM-400 integration on Serbian combat jets.

2026-03-10T15:58:30.101355-07:00

Serbian MiG-29s photographed carrying Chinese CM-400 supersonic air-to-ground missiles

SpaceNews.com

Landspace completes long‑duration hot‑fire of 220‑ton methane engine as it pursues heavy‑lift rockets Landspace completed a long‑duration full‑system hot‑fire test of a new 220‑ton‑class methane rocket engine, advancing development beyond its Zhuque‑3 small‑launcher work. The test is a propulsion milestone on the path toward a future heavy‑lift vehicle with larger payload capability.

2026-03-10T04:47:22.981882-07:00

Landspace completes long‑duration hot‑fire of 220‑ton methane engine as it pursues heavy‑lift rockets

Reuters

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Archer files counterclaim accusing Joby of defrauding U.S. government and hiding China ties in eVTOL contract dispute Archer Aviation filed a counterclaim accusing rival Joby Aviation of defrauding the U.S. government and hiding close ties to China — including Chinese supply‑chain links — to gain an unfair competitive advantage in a U.S. eVTOL contract dispute. The filing escalates an already intensifying legal battle between the two air‑taxi developers.

2026-03-09T23:39:14.763056-07:00

Archer files counterclaim accusing Joby of defrauding U.S. government and hiding China ties in eVTOL contract dispute

Universe Today

Chang'e‑6 regolith: jagged, clingy lunar dust could enable in‑situ construction Researchers at Beihang University analyzed Chang'e‑6 samples returned from the lunar far side and found the regolith's jagged, clingy and electrostatically charged properties could be beneficial for in‑situ construction. The paper, published in Research, argues these mechanical traits may simplify building habitats and infrastructure using local material.

2026-03-09T09:58:05.181507-07:00

Chang'e‑6 regolith: jagged, clingy lunar dust could enable in‑situ construction

Space.com

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China eyes Rimae Bode near‑side 'geological museum' for first crewed Moon landing China is considering Rimae Bode, a near‑side area described as a "geological museum," as the landing site for its first crewed lunar mission. The region combines volcanic plains and ancient highlands in a single traversable area, enabling sampling from deep lunar interior volcanics to massive impact debris.

2026-03-09T09:14:23.131560-07:00

China eyes Rimae Bode near‑side 'geological museum' for first crewed Moon landing

SpaceNews.com

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Chinese delegate urges prioritizing ambitious Neptune orbiter mission A senior Chinese space scientist and delegate to the national congress has called for prioritizing an unprecedented orbiter mission to Neptune, urging Beijing to accelerate planning for an ice‑giant exploration effort. The proposal could mark a shift toward higher‑profile, deep‑space science in China's program.

2026-03-09T04:41:03.259148-07:00

Chinese delegate urges prioritizing ambitious Neptune orbiter mission

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China News

China lays out busiest 2026 space manifest — crewed flights, year‑long solo mission and lunar push

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications

Archer files counterclaim accusing Joby of defrauding U.S. government and hiding China ties in eVTOL contract dispute

Landspace completes long‑duration hot‑fire of 220‑ton methane engine as it pursues heavy‑lift rockets

Hype Analysis

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

News Timeline