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Space.com • Leonard David

Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured

China's Shenzhou-20 capsule landed at the Dongfeng site on Jan. 19, ending an unplanned 270‑day mission after roughly nine months docked to the Tiangong space station. The return vehicle survived a suspected orbital‑debris strike, and the three crew received aerospace achievement medals and 'Heroic Astronaut' honours on Jan. 21.

2026-01-21T08:22:45.362551-08:00

SpaceWatch Global

China’s Satellite Surge: Growth Curves and Strategic Implications

2026-01-21T00:17:44.614725-08:00

Space.com

China previews Xuntian 2‑meter space telescope with mock observations ahead of 2027 launch

2026-01-19T08:05:33.624949-08:00

Bloomberg

Airbus orders UBTech Walker S2 humanoid robots for aircraft production

2026-01-18T23:30:16.181824-08:00

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

Space.com

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Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured China's Shenzhou-20 capsule landed at the Dongfeng site on Jan. 19, ending an unplanned 270‑day mission after roughly nine months docked to the Tiangong space station. The return vehicle survived a suspected orbital‑debris strike, and the three crew received aerospace achievement medals and 'Heroic Astronaut' honours on Jan. 21.

2026-01-21T08:22:45.362551-08:00

Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured

SpaceWatch Global

❗️

China’s Satellite Surge: Growth Curves and Strategic Implications China's annual satellite launches accelerated sharply from 111 in 2021 to 378 in 2025, driving rapid expansion of LEO constellations and national orbital assets. The surge increases China's on-orbit capacity and raises strategic questions for commercial market balance and defense-related capabilities.

2026-01-21T00:17:44.614725-08:00

China’s Satellite Surge: Growth Curves and Strategic Implications

AeroTime

DOJ moves to seize two TFASA-built P-8-style ASW trainers intercepted en route to China’s PLA The US Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking to seize two P-8-style anti-submarine warfare mission crew trainers manufactured by South Africa’s TFASA. Authorities intercepted the systems while they were in transit to the People’s Liberation Army of China, and DOJ has opened federal forfeiture proceedings.

2026-01-20T02:30:54.300702-08:00

DOJ moves to seize two TFASA-built P-8-style ASW trainers intercepted en route to China’s PLA

Space.com

China previews Xuntian 2‑meter space telescope with mock observations ahead of 2027 launch China has published mock observations demonstrating the performance of Xuntian, a 2‑meter‑class space telescope designed to operate near its space station, as the program advances toward a planned 2027 launch. The tests aim to validate imaging capability and science readiness ahead of final integration.

2026-01-19T08:05:33.624949-08:00

China previews Xuntian 2‑meter space telescope with mock observations ahead of 2027 launch

SpaceWatch Global

Who Built China’s 2025 Satellite Surge? CAST and SECM Account for Just Over Half China launched almost 400 satellites in 2025, with CAST and SECM responsible for just over half of the spacecraft built and developed. The concentration highlights how a small set of domestic manufacturers dominated production amid a record launch surge this year.

2026-01-19T00:27:56.781634-08:00

Who Built China’s 2025 Satellite Surge? CAST and SECM Account for Just Over Half

eVTOL Insights

EHang names Shuai Feng CTO as it advances toward commercial eVTOL operations EHang has appointed Shuai Feng as Chief Technology Officer, a senior leadership change the company says is a key step as it advances toward commercial eVTOL operations. The move positions EHang to consolidate technical oversight as it pushes from demonstrations into operational phases.

2026-01-19T00:06:23.484553-08:00

EHang names Shuai Feng CTO as it advances toward commercial eVTOL operations

Bloomberg

Airbus orders UBTech Walker S2 humanoid robots for aircraft production Airbus has placed orders with China’s UBTech for its Walker S2 humanoid robots and will deploy industrial versions in aircraft manufacturing, a move that lifted UBTech shares. The deal follows a similar order from Texas Instruments and underscores UBTech’s accelerated overseas push into global manufacturing.

2026-01-18T23:30:16.181824-08:00

Airbus orders UBTech Walker S2 humanoid robots for aircraft production

NASA Spaceflight

Space science in 2026: a crowded manifest of lunar explorers, Mars missions and next‑gen telescopes 2026's space‑science calendar features a dense launch manifest — multiple lunar landers and orbiters, at least one Mars mission and several next‑generation space telescopes — promising intensive scientific returns and a sustained high operational tempo for agencies, commercial launch providers and international partners.

2026-01-18T13:00:23.040662-08:00

Space science in 2026: a crowded manifest of lunar explorers, Mars missions and next‑gen telescopes

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China News

Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured

China’s Satellite Surge: Growth Curves and Strategic Implications

China previews Xuntian 2‑meter space telescope with mock observations ahead of 2027 launch

Airbus orders UBTech Walker S2 humanoid robots for aircraft production

Hype Analysis

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

News Timeline