China Crash Lands Lunar Probe As Space Industry Drives Ahead

Chang’e 1, China’s first lunar probe, has been crash landed on the moon, state media reports. But Chang’e 2 will make a soft landing and Chang’e 3 return home.
That is the three-phase plan for the moon mission that started with Chang’e 1’s launch in October 2007. Chang’e 3 is expected to be launched in 2017 [...]

Spacewalks, Milestones and the Party Plenum

It was shorter than expected, 13 mins, but a spacewalk nonetheless, and the latest milestone in China’s fast advancing space program.
Astronaut Zhai Zhigang, floated out of Shenzhou 7’s orbital module on Saturday afternoon, and at one point waved a Chinese flag. Xinhua has lots of coverage, including pictures of Zhai and flag (How do you [...]

Xinhua Spaces Out

Xinhua’s web site ran a detailed report Thursday on the successful launch of the Shenzhou 7 space mission,  including snatches of dialogue between the astronauts. Only problem was the story was posted hours before lift off. An Associated Press report on the snafu. And another on the actual successful launch is here.

China’s First Spacewalk Due On Friday

The first Chinese spacewalk is due to occur on Friday, according to the commander-in-chief of the Shenzhou VII spacecraft. As we have noted before, it will be broadcast live, though there will probably be some time delay, for expediency’s sake.
The countdown for Thursday’s launch has started. China’s third manned space flight comes just five years [...]

China Will Broadcast First Spacewalk

A sign of China’s growing confidence in its space programme: the next flight, due later this month, will feature a live broadcast of a first ever space walk by Chinese astronauts. (A report from the Shanghai Daily here.) It is only five years since China became the third nation to send a person into orbit. [...]

Moon Shot

China’s long-awaited moon shot is about to happen. The AP reports that China National Space Administration officials say the Chang’e 1 lunar orbiter will be launched between October 24th and 26th.
As I noted in August, a successful flight will add China to an elite club of nations that have sent a spacecraft around the moon [...]