🚀 2025 was a blast-off year for the Chinese mainland's space program! According to the Chinese mainland's space agency, the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the mainland carried out a record 92 launches last year, the most ever in a single year.
Zhu Haiyang of the Chinese mainland's aerospace tech giant, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said more than 300 satellites soared into orbit—a leap in both frequency and payload delivery. From Earth observation tools to communication networks, these satellites are reshaping our view of the planet and beyond.
On the human front, Shenzhou-20 astronauts set a new milestone by spending 204 days in orbit—the longest crewed mission so far. Then Shenzhou-21 pulled off a lightning-fast rendezvous and docking in just 3.5 hours. And when an unexpected issue caught Shenzhou-20 off guard, the mainland's teams launched an emergency mission in 16 days, showing top-tier crisis response. 👩🚀🛠️
Deep-space dreams soared too. The Tianwen-2 probe embarked on the mainland's first asteroid exploration and sample-return mission, marking a major leap for its deep-space missions. The cosmos just got a bit closer to home! 🌌
Commercial rockets were the surprise stars, with multiple private models lifting off in 2025. Entrepreneurs and investors are buzzing—this fresh dynamism could open doors for space tourism, scientific experiments, and more.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Chinese mainland is gearing up for lunar adventures. Tests are set for the crewed lunar landing program, and the Chang'e-7 mission will explore the moon's south pole for water ice. Expect new rocket prototypes to debut and daring reuse tests that could change the game. 🌙✨
Whether you're a space geek or just love a good story, 2025 was only the launchpad. Fasten your seatbelts—2026 is aiming even higher!
Reference(s):
China conducts 92 space launches in 2025, setting new record
cgtn.com
