Recapping China's Busy 2024 in Space!
China's space sector has had one of its busiest years with 2024.
2024 has been an incredibly busy, if not the busiest, year for China’s space sector. As the year is now over I’ve compiled all of the major stories from over the year along with all sixty-eight of the launches. Toward the end, I’ll also briefly look towards what major things to expect next year!
An Incredible 2024
Chang’e 6 returns first far-side samples
Arguably the most impressive mission from China this year was the lunar far-side surface sample return mission, Chang’e 6. Chang’e 6 blasted off from Wenchang back on May 3rd atop of a Long March 5, sending it toward the Moon.
Fifty-three days later Chang’e 6’s probes re-entry capsule touched down in China with 1935.3 grams of lunar surface samples. These samples were gathered by a robotic scoop and drill inside the Moon’s South Pole–Aitken basin (41° 38′ 18.6″ S, 153° 59′ 6.72″ W). Some of these samples were also displayed at the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, back in mid-October.
Chang’e 6 was the first mission to retrieve lunar samples from the far side of the Moon and bring them back to Earth for study. It was also the second time China landed a spacecraft on the far side of the Moon, as it landed Chang'e 4 back in January 2019 where it is still believed to be operating today.
Queqiao-2 expands lunar communications
Ahead of the Chang’e 6 mission, March saw the launch of the Queqiao-2 lunar communications relay satellite atop of a Long March 8 from Wenchang. Four days later the satellite entered orbit of the Moon under its own power.
In April Queqiao-2 performed a communications test with Chang’e 4, demonstrating lunar far-side communications operations. Throughout May and June, the satellite supported the Chang’e 6 mission. In the coming years, Queqiao-2 will support the Chang’e 7 mission in 2026 and Chang’e 8 in 2028.
Currently, Queqiao-2 resides in a 1,991 kilometer by 18,678 kilometer 119-degree inclination ‘frozen’ orbit around the Moon. The satellite will also be operation until around 2033.
Lunar spacesuit revealed
In late September the China Manned Space Agency revealed the spacesuit taikonauts will use on the lunar surface as part of the country’s crewed lunar exploration mission, scheduled to begin before 2030. The spacesuit was unveiled at the third Spacesuit Technology Forum in Chongqing along with a video shared by the Manned Space Agency.
This video showcased a wide range of movements and demonstrated the ability to walk, crouch, kneel, and climb a ladder. The new lunar suits feature more flexible gloves, a panoramic glare-proof helmet visor, and joints designed for low gravity. These improvements will greatly help activities on the lunar surface, such as surface sample retrieval and experiment deployment.
Details about the suit remain relatively few but it may be tested in space aboard the Tiangong Space Station in the near-future.
Reusable rockets make great progress
Several companies have made progress toward reusable rockets this past year with a few entities performing high-altitude hop tests. The first major hop occurred in June from two state-backed enterprises, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, for a joint test. This joint test ascended with three engines and landed downrange under the power of one remaining engine, these engines are believed to be Jiuzhou Yunjian’s liquid methane and liquid oxygen Longyun engine. This state-backed test will support the development of various reusable rockets and primarily new variants of the Long March 12.
In early September LandSpace performed China’s second high-altitude hop test, and the company’s second reusable rocket test in 2024. LandSpace’s hop had the vehicle ascend under the power of one TQ-12A engine burning liquid methane and liquid oxygen before shutting down for descent. The vehicle’s descent was controlled by four small grid fins before the engine was reignited for a soft touchdown. LandSpace’s test was to support the development of the company’s Zhuque-3 launch vehicle.
The third and final high-altitude hop test was conducted by Deep Blue Aerospace with a largely successful test in late September. Similar to the test in June, Deep Blue’s test had three engines burning for ascent before switching to one for descent and landing. This final test of the year had the test vehicle perform as planned for all but the final landing, touching down hard and exploding. The test was still considered a success for reusable rocket development as well as being the first to use rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen. Deep Blue Aerospace test is in support of Nebula-1’s development and possibly first flight.
New rocket debuts
With a growing demand for delivering satellites to orbit, a few new and improved rockets have made their first flights in 2024. China’s first rocket to debut this year was OrienSpace’s Gravity-1, flying from a sea-launch platform in January. The all-solid fuelled 405,000-kilogram rocket carried three water satellites into orbit for its first mission.
Later in the year in May, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology debuted the Long March 6C launch vehicle from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying four satellites. The Long March 6C is based on the Long March 6A but has a smaller second-stage and no solid rocket boosters, two YF-100 engines and one YF-115 power the rocket.
LandSpace debuted the improved Zhuque-2E rocket in late November while carrying two satellites into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Zhuque-2E is largely based off the existing Zhuque-2 vehicle but features a restartable TQ-15A engine, all engines powering the rocket burn liquid methane and liquid oxygen.
For their second debut of the year the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology flew the Long March 12 from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, which was also the first mission for the launch site. The Long March 12 is China’s widest single-core rocket with a diameter of 3.8 meters while also being powered by four of the nation’s most advanced rocket-grade kerosene engine, the YF-100K.
The final debut of the year came in December from ExPace with an improved version of the Kauizhou-1A rocket. This improved version was dubbed ‘Kaizhou-1A Pro’ and features a wider restartable fourth as well as a larger 1.8-meter diameter fairing.
Mega-constellations begin
In 2024 mega-constellations began being launched regularly, with most of the 127 satellites currently in space for four different constellations deployed this year. The state-backed GuoWang and Qianfan constellations saw four launches this year ahead of beginning regular internet coverage of China and other regions next year. These four launches saw 64 satellites deployed by Long March 6A and Long March 5 vehicles.
The privately-owned Geely Future Mobility Constellation and Guodian Gaoke’s Tianqi networks also grew with expanded plans this year as both constellations push to complete phase one of their respective plans. Phase one of Geely’s constellation should be completed next year for providing regular automobile positioning services. The Tianqi constellation is likely one launch away from completing phase one as Guodian Gaoke expands the constellation’s offerings from Internet-of-Things services to vehicle automation and communications.
2050 Three-phase science strategy for space
In mid-October, the China National Space Administration, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the China Manned Space Agency announced a plan for space science strategy between 2025 and 2050 across three phases. These phases will run from 2025 to 2027, 2028 to 2035, and 2036 to 2050. Areas covered by the plan include the development of new technologies, the focusing of development efforts into key areas, and the implementation of new scientific missions.
Some of the goals of missions within the plan are attaining revolutionary breakthroughs in basic research on the origins and evolution of the universe, the nature of space-time, the solar system, and the origins of life, the discovery of habitable Earth-like planets, implementing lunar in-situ resource utilization, and to conduct extraterrestrial life exploration to name a few.
With the plan, China hopes to gradually become a leading space power along with strengthening organizational efforts, deepening international cooperation, effectively promoting space sciences, and ensuring investment in space.
Tiangong to have commercial cargo
Ahead of the Shenzhou-19 mission at the end of October, the China Manned Space Agency announced that it had selected two providers for future cargo deliveries to the Tiangong Space Station. The two providers are the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute with the Haolong cargo spaceplane and the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences with the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft.
The Haolong spaceplane has deployable wings as well as solar panels and radiators for protection during launch atop of an unannounced launch vehicle. Haolong is expected to survive reentry and safely return cargo to Earth with landings on a runway.
Qingzhou is a more conventional cargo delivery spacecraft with fixed solar panels around the exterior of the vehicle. The payload capacity is expected to be 2,750 kilograms to the space station and 2,900 kilograms for disposal in the atmosphere, as it cannot survive reentry.
Both of these spacecraft are expected to be capable of delivering more than 1,800 kilograms of cargo, while being able to dispose of or return 2,000 kilograms, at a price of less than 120 million Yuan (16.4 million United States Dollars as of December 27th) per 1,000 kilograms.
Tiangong passes 30 months crewed
Throughout 2024 China’s Tiangong Space Station has hosted nine missions, being Shenzhou-17, 18, and 19. These missions have brought nine people to the station this year.
Shenzhou-17 had launched back in October of the previous year but had four months of the mission take place in 2024. The crew of this mission was Tang Hongbo (汤洪波), Tang Shengjie (唐胜杰), and Jiang Xinlin (江新林).
In late April the Shenzhou-18 mission arrived to take over responsibilities onboard the station, bringing Ye Guangfu (叶光富), Li Cong (李聪), and Li Guangsu (李广苏) as the new crew. The new crew would be onboard the station from April 25th to November 3rd and conduct two spacewalks for Tiangong’s longest mission, at 192 days.
The station’s current mission, Shenzhou-19, arrived at the end of October, bringing Cai Xuzhe (蔡旭哲), Wang Haoze (王浩泽), and Song Lingdong (宋令东) to take over day-to-day responsibilities. So far this crew has spent just over two months onboard, performed one record-breaking spacewalk, and will return to Earth in April 2025.
With the three missions this year Tiangong has spent over 30 months permanently crewed, since June 2022, and has been home to nineteen different taikonauts.
Wenchang commercial spaceport opens
As part of plans to resolve a looming launch site bottleneck, 2024 saw the opening of China’s fifth spaceport. This new spaceport was opened on the east coast of Hainan province, next to the existing Wenchang Space Launch Site, and was dubbed the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site.
This new site is the only launch site in China that is not directly run by the military as it is operated by Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (海南国际商业航天发射有限公司), often shortened to HICAL. HICAL itself is a state-owned corporation as a joint venture between the Hainan Provincial Government, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and China Satellite Network Group.
The commercial launch site was declared operational at the end of June after under two years of construction and various tests of two launch pads, capable of supporting liquid-fueled launch vehicles. Wenchang Commercial’s first launch would take place towards the end of the year, with the debut of the Long March 12 from Commercial Launch Pad 2, due to delays of various privately developed rockets.
Commercial Launch Pad 1 is expected to support its first launch in January with a delayed Long March 8 mission carrying a group of Qianfan satellites into orbit. In the weeks after that mission the Long March 8A may also begin flying from the launch pad.
Next year the commercial launch site is expected to support various missions for privately operated launch vehicles, such as Space Pioneer’s Tianlong-3, Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1, and iSpace’s Hyperbola-3 to name a few.
First reusable satellite mission
From late September to early October China conducted its first mission with a reusable satellite, with the Shijian-19 mission. Shijian-19 spent two weeks in orbit conducting science experiments for Chinese and international researchers.
Prior to this mission, China had flown thirty recoverable satellites, but none were reusable. This mission is thought to be a demonstration mission ahead of the launches of the fifth-generation Fanhui Shi Weixing recoverable satellites to allow for regular independent microgravity research missions.
Interesting items flown onboard the mission were seeds from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hainan Province, and Anhui Province as well as various cultural items. Additional items were flags and pins from the International Astronautical Foundation.
Booster incidents decline, upper-stages pop
In a positive development for China’s more questionable rocket launch practices, only one incident regarding the disposal of a hypergolic Long March rocket booster occurred this year.
This year’s sole incident took place with the Long March 2C Y50’s first-stage booster, having supported the SVOM mission, which fell in Guiding County in Guizhou Province. The incident occurred as the local government failed to fully evacuate the surrounding areas properly before launch. Thankfully no one was harmed.
However, another problem has also emerged with the second-stages of the Long March 6A and Long March 12 breaking up and spreading debris in orbit. So far this issue has only happened with vehicles operated by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and is currently being investigated for a long-term solution.
ILRS expands membership
The China-led International Lunar Research Station gained five new member countries this year. These new members are Thailand, Nicaragua, Serbia, Kazakhstan, and Senegal.
While the lunar station's development and launch plans have not yet been publicly disclosed beyond the robotic phase, it is scheduled to be operational by 2035, with long-term human stays occurring before 2045.
So far thirteen countries, China, Venezuela, South Africa, Russia, Thailand, Nicaragua, Serbia, Kazakhstan, and Senegal, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Belarus, and Egypt, are part of the project along with over forty international institutions.
Looking to 2025
Launch for Tianwen-2
If the Chang’e 5 and Chang’e 6 missions weren’t already impressive China will launch an asteroid sample return mission in May 2025 atop a Long March 3B/E from Xichang. This mission is Tianwen-2 and will collect approximately 100 grams of samples from asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa.
The Tianwen-2 mission will perform close-range observations and analysis of Kamoʻoalewa. Observation and analysis may be supported by a nano-lander and nano-orbiter too.
To head to Kamoʻoalewa, Tianwen-2 will utilize solar electric propulsion to propel the 2,000-kilogram spacecraft while catching up with the target asteroid and to match its velocity. Sampling of the asteroid will be done by anchor-and-attach and touch-and-go methods into 2027. These samples will be returned to Earth as the Tianwen-2 orbiter passes by to head off for its long-term observation target, comet 311P/PANSTARRS.
Debuts for many reusable rockets
For numerous years, various entities in China have been working on reusable launch vehicles. Finally, it appears that these rockets will begin to fly in 2025. The rockets are:
CAS Space’s Kinetica-2 is planned to debut in September 2025. Once operational, the rocket will be capable of carrying 12,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit or 8,000 kilograms to a sun-synchronous orbit.
LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 is scheduled for a June 2025 debut, and will be able to lift up to 21,300 kilograms to low Earth orbit in expendable mode. When utilizing a downrange landing, it will carry 18,300 kilograms, while returning to the launch site will allow for 12,500 kilograms of payload capacity.
Space Pioneer’s Tianlong-3 is set to make its first flight in May 2025. It will be capable of delivering 17,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit or 14,000 kilograms to a sun-synchronous orbit.
Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 is planned to debut in 2025, and will be able to carry 8,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. For missions to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, it will handle up to 5,000 kilograms.
iSpace’s Hyperbola-3 is expected to launch in 2025. It will carry up to 13,600 kilograms to low Earth orbit in expendable mode and 8,600 kilograms when reused. A three-core version will be capable of lifting 32,200 kilograms to low Earth orbit when expended or 14,100 kilograms when reused.
Deep Blue Aerospace’s Nebula-1 is scheduled for its debut in early 2025. Initially, it will carry up to 2,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit, with planned upgrades increasing this capacity to 6,000 kilograms.
OrienSpace’s Gravity-2 is planned for a 2025 debut. In reusable mode, it will carry 17,400 kilograms to low Earth orbit, 11,900 kilograms to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, or 3,900 kilograms to a geostationary transfer orbit. When expended, it will be capable of lifting 21,500 kilograms to low Earth orbit, 15,000 kilograms to a sun-synchronous orbit, or 5,900 kilograms to a geostationary transfer orbit.
Cosmoleap's Leap launch vehicle may conduct its debut mission in 2025. The payload capacity of Leap is planned to be 6,250 kilograms with booster recovery or 10,400 kilograms with the booster expended to a low Earth orbit altitude of 1000 kilometers.
Other reusable rockets with less much more unknown developments status’ may also debut this year, along with possible new expendable launch vehicles.
More Long March launch vehicles
Dozens of Long March launch vehicles are already flying but a few more are on the way from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. Early next year the Long March 8A is expected to debut from Wenchang, boasting an improved second-stage and payload capacity. Two new possibly reusable variants of the Long March 12 may also fly next year.
Throughout 2025 more progress on the Long March 10A and Long March 10 Moon rocket is expected ahead of their debuts in early 2026 and 2027 respectively.
China’s launches in 2024
This year had a record-breaking sixty-eight launches occur from China, beating last year’s sixty-seven. Notably, only forty-nine of these launches were with Long March launch vehicles as Galactic Energy’s Ceres-1 performed five missions, while CAS Space’s Kinetica-1 completed four missions, and ExPace conducted four missions with its Kuaizhou launch vehicle series.
At each launch site, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center supported twenty-one launches, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center had nineteen launches, the Taiyuan Satellites Launch Center saw thirteen launches, while the Wenchang Space Launch Site had eight launches, and the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site had a single mission. Six launches also took place for sea launch platforms.
If you would like to know what each of China’s launches this year were, they are listed in order below, thanks to my work writing Cosmic Nxws’ newsletters. A link to more details about each mission, if available, will be embedded.
1. January 5th - Kuaizhou-1A with Tianmu-1 15-18
To begin 2024, ExPace launched a Kuaizhou-1A from Launch Area 95A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in northern China, believed to be carrying four Tianmu-1 meteorology research satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit.
2. January 9th - Long March 2C with the Einstein Probe
On the 9th of January, a Long March 2C lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the Einstein Probe to a 600-kilometer low Earth orbit. The Einstein Probe is a science mission by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the European Space Agency as well as the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, based in Germany.
3. January 11th - Kuaizhou 1A with Tianxing-1-02
A Kuaizhou 1A lifted off from the Jiquan Satellite Launch Center on the 11th of January. The rocket was carrying the Tianxing-1-02 satellites to a sun-synchronous orbit to perform spatial environment measurements.
4. January 11th - Gravity-1 for its maiden flight
OrienSpace conducted the maiden flight of its Gravity-1 launch vehicle on the 11th of January. The launch vehicle lifted off from its sea launch platform at 13:30 pm, Beijing Time, off the coast of Haiyang, located in the Shandong province. The rocket also carried three Yunyao-1 weather satellites into low Earth orbit.
5. January 17th - Long March 7 with Tianzhou 7
A Long March 7 lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Wednesday the 17th of January at 22:27 pm Beijing Time. The rocket was carrying the Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft to low Earth orbit where it chased down the Tiangong Space Station and docked to the Tianhe module at 02:07 am Beijing Time, on January 18th.
6. January 23rd - Kinetica-1 with five satellites
At 04:03 am, Coordinated Universal Time, a Kinetica-1 rocket lifted off from Launch Area 130 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and flew to a sun-synchronous orbit of the Earth. CAS Space's Kinetica-1 carried five satellites for MINOSPACE. The satellites were; Taijing-1 03, Taijing-2 02 & 04, Taijing-3 02, and Taijing-4 03.
7. February 2nd - Long March 2C with Group-02 of Geespace’s constellation
The first launch of the month was a Long March 2C launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying eleven satellites to low Earth orbit for Chinese automotive company Geely, through its subsidiary Geespace. Geespace is building a constellation in low Earth orbit to support testing of autonomous driving in its cars as well as for inter-vehicle communications.
8. February 3rd - Jielong-3 with nine satellites
A Smart Dragon 3 launched from a sea launch platform to a sun-synchronous orbit carrying nine satellites for its payload. The nine spacecraft were: DRO-L, Zhixing-2A, DongFangHuiYan-GF01, WeiHai-01 & 02, XingShiDai-18 & 19 & 20, and NEXSAT-1.
9. February 23rd - Long March 5 with TJS No. 11
A Long March 5 lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, for the rocket's seventh mission. The rocket was carrying what is believed to be TJS satellite No. 11 toward a geostationary transfer orbit.
10. February 29th - Long March 3B/E with WHG-01
Also on the 29th, a Long March 3B/E took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center headed towards a geostationary transfer orbit carrying the WHG-01 satellite. The WHG-01 satellite is believed to be an internet satellite.
11. March 13th - Long March 2C/YZ-1S with DRO-A & DRO-B
A failure occurred in March, less than a day later when the Yuanzheng-1S upper-stage failed in flight carrying the DRO-A and DRO-B satellites to a trans-lunar trajectory. This launch occurred from Xichang Satellite Launch Center with the two stages of the Long March 2C working as planned.
12. March 20th - Long March 8 with Queqiao-2
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology launched a Long March 8 rocket from Launch Complex 2 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, located in the Hainan province in southern China. The Queqiao-2 satellite was delivered to a translunar trajectory alongside two other small satellites, Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2.
13. March 21st - Long March 2D/YZ-3 with Yunhai-2 Group 02
A Long March 2D with a Yuanzheng-3 upper-stage launched from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying a believed six Yunhai-2 satellites. The satellites are believed to be tasked with surveying atmospheric factors, monitoring the space environment, providing data to support disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, and carrying out scientific experiments according to the China Academy of Space Technology Corporation commenting after the launch.
14. March 26th - Long March 6A with Yunhai 3-02
China launched a Long March 6A from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, located in northern China. The rocket was carrying the Yunhai 3-02 satellite to a sun-synchronous orbit.
15. April 2nd - Long March 2D with Yaogan-42A
China launched its first mission of the month with a Long March 2D lifting off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the Yaogan-42A satellite into low Earth orbit. Yaogan-42A is a remote-sensing satellite intended to help with land surveying, disaster prevention, and monitoring of the Earth below.
16. April 15th - Long March 2D with Gaojing-3 (01)
China launched its second mission in April, with a Long March 2D lifting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to a sun-synchronus orbit. Onboard the rocket was the Gaojing-3 (01) satellite built by the China Association for Science and Technology for use with China Siwei Survey and Mapping Technology Co Ltd for commercial Earth observation services.
17. April 21st - Long March 2D with Yaogan 42B
A Long March 2D launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the Yaogan 42B satellite to low Earth orbit, this was China's third launch of the month. The satellite is a remote-sensing satellite and will help with land surveying, disaster prevention, and monitoring of the Earth below.
18. April 25th - Long March 2F/G with Shenzhou-18
For its fourth launch of April, China launched another crew to its Tiangong Space Station from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center atop of a Long March 2F/G rocket. The crew aboard the Shenzhou-18 mission are Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu.
19. May 3rd - Long March 5 with Chang'e 6
China kicked off its fourth lunar landing mission with the Chang'e 6 lunar far-side sample return mission from LC-101 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, located in the province of Hainan. The mission is part of the country's fourth phase of its lunar exploration program and the first mission aiming to retrieve samples from the far-side of the Moon.
20. May 7th - Long March 6C on its debut flight
The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology debuted its new Long March 6C launch vehicle from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying four payloads into a sun-synchronus orbit.
21. May 9th - Long March 3B/E with Smart SkyNet 1A & 1B
The first of two Long March 3B/E's this month lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center to medium Earth orbit. The two Smart SkyNet satellites will test communications technologies in space before launching more satellites later in the year.
22. May 11th - Long March 4C with Shiyan-23
The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology launched a second rocket during may with a Long March 4C lifting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to a sun-synchronus orbit. The payload was Shiyan-23 which is believed to be operated by the Chinese military.
23. May 20th - Long March 2D with Beijing 3C
The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology launched a third rocket during May with a Long March 2D carrying four Beijing 3C Earth observation satellites into a sun-synchronus orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The four Beijing 3C satellites will provide data for map surveying, land surveying, forestry surveying, urban planning, as well as disaster monitoring and relief. This launched also tested a new grid fin design during the descent of the first-stage.
24. May 21st -Kuaizhou-11 with four satellites
ExPace launched a Kuaizhou-11 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying four satellites into a sun-synchronus orbit. The four satellites were Wuhan-1, Chutian 001, Tianyan 22, and Lingque-3 01. Notably, Wuhan-1 is a 'ultra-low-orbit' technology demonstrator spacecraft.
25. May 29th - Ceres-1S with Tianqi No. 25-28
Galactic Energy kicked off its launches for the year with a Ceres-1S launching from the Dongfang Hangtiangang sea launch vessel approximately three miles off of the coast of the city of Rizhao in the Yellow Sea. The payloads atop of the rocket were four Tianqi satellites for a commercial 'internet of things' and communications network of spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
26. May 30th - Long March 3B/E with Paksat MM1R
China launched its second Long March 3B/E of the month carrying Paksat MM1R to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Paksat-MM1R is claimed as being able to provide television, radio, and regional communications in Pakistan.
27. May 31st - Ceres-1 with five satellites
A second Ceres-1 launched during May, and a day and a half after the last, this time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Aboard the rocket were Jiguang-01, Jiguang-02, Yunyao-1 14, Yunyao-1 25, and Yunyao-1 26. All five satellites are believed to be healthy in an approximately 535-kilometer sun-synchronus orbit.
28. June 6th - Ceres-1 with four spacecraft
Galactic Energy launched its third Ceres-1 of 2024 carrying Naxing-3A (纳星三号A星), Naxing-3B (纳星三号B星), TEE-01B (or 地球之眼1号卫星), and Eros into a sun-synchronus orbit. Eros is Galactic Energy's new orbital test platform that can host customer experiments and satellites.
29. June 22nd - Long March 2C with SVOM
A Long March 2C blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the French-Chinese SVOM spacecraft, which will help detect gamma-ray bursts. The Long March 2C successfully placed the spacecraft into its desired low Earth orbit.
30. June 29th - Long March 7A with ChinaSat-3A
China conducted its thirtieth launch of the year with a Long March 7A lifting off from Launch Complex 201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, in the southernmost province of Hainan. The payload atop of the Long March 7A was ChinaSat-3A, which was successfully placed into a geostationary transfer orbit.
31. July 4th - Long March 6A with Tianhui-5 Group 02
A Long March 6A, which had a stretched 4.2-meter diameter fairing, lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying two satellites to a sun-synchronous orbit as part of the second group of Tianhui-5 satellites. The two satellites are expected to be used for geographic mapping, land resources surveys, and scientific experiments.
32. July 11th - Hyperbola-1 with three Yunyao-1 satellites
i-Space attempted to start its launches for 2024 with the launch of its seventh Hyperbola-1 from Launch Area 95A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in northern China. However, Hyperbola-1 experienced an anomaly during its fourth-stage burn, leading to a loss of the vehicle and payloads.
33. July 19th - Long March 4B with Gaofen 11-05
This week's only launch was a Long March 4B lifting off from Launch Complex 9 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March 4B carried the Gaofen 11-05 satellite into a sun-synchronus orbit. Gaofen 11-05 will reportedly provide urban and road construction planning, land mapping, agricultural yield forecasting, and disaster prevention and mitigation services.
34. August 1st - Long March 3B/E with WHG-02
Beginning this month was a Long March 3B/E lifting off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying a new communications satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite was the second ‘Internet high-orbit satellite’ (Weixing Hulianwang Gaogui, WHG) spacecraft.
35. August 6th - Long March 6A with Qianfan Polar Group 01
A Long March 6A lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying the first 18 satellites for China's Qianfan constellation. These satellites are believed to have been deployed at an altitude of approximately 800 kilometers.
36. August 16th - Long March 4B with Yaogan-43 Group 01
A Long March 4B lifted off from Launch Complex 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying what is believed to be nine satellites to low Earth orbit. The rocket is also believed to have flown with a new 4.2-meter diameter fairing too.
37. August 22nd - Long March 7A with ChinaSat-4A
The second Long March 7A launch of 2024 carried ChinaSat-4A to a geostationary transfer orbit from LC-201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. ChinaSat-4A will reportedly be used to provide data, radio, voice, and television transmission services.
38. August 29th - Ceres-1S for 'How Far I'll Go'
Galactic Energy's fourth Ceres-1 of 2024 launched from a sea launch platform in the Yellow Sea carrying six satellites to a sun-synchronus orbit. The six satellites were Yunyao-1 15 (云遥一号15), Yunyao-1 16 (云遥一号16), Yunyao-1 17 (云遥一号17), Jitianxing A-03 (吉天星A-03), Suxing-1 01 (苏星一号01), and Tianfu Gaofen-2 (天辅高分二号).
39. September 3rd - Long March 4B with Yaogan-43 Group-02
September's launches started with a Long March 4B lifting off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying a believed six satellites into low Earth orbit. These satellites were the second group of spacecraft launched for Yaogan-43, which is stated as being for testing low Earth orbit constellation technologies.
40. September 5th - Long March 6 with Group-03 of Geespace's constellation
A Long March 6 launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying ten satellites into low Earth orbit. The ten satellites were for Geespace’s Geely Future Mobility Constellation.
41. September 19th - Long March 3B/E with BeiDou 59 & 60
A Long March 3B/E blasted off from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying two third-generation BeiDou navigation satellites. These satellites were deployed into a medium Earth orbit thanks to the use of a Yuanzheng-1 upper-stage, allowing the spacecraft to reserve onboard propellant for their ten-year operational lives.
42. September 20th - Long March 2D with six Jilin-1 satellites
Six Jilin-1 satellites, as part of the Kuanfu-02B group, were delivered to a sun-synchronus orbit by a Long March 2D flying from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. These satellites are believed to be remote-sensing spacecraft offering imaging resolutions between 0.5 and 4 meters to customers.
43. September 20th - Kuaizhou-1A with four Tianqi satellites
Another launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center occurred on the 20th with a Kuaizhou-1A lifting off to low Earth orbit. Onboard this launch was four Tianqi Internet-of-Things spacecraft as part of a thirty-eight satellite constellation, with thirty-two spacecraft already in orbit.
44. September 24th - Jielong-3 with 8 satellites
A Jielong-3 rocket lifted off from a sea launch platform off fo the coast of Haiyang, in eastern China, carrying 8 satellites to a sun-synchronus orbit.
45. September 25th - Kinetica-1 with 5 satellites
CAS Space's Kinetica-1 blasted off from Launch Site 130 at the Jiuquan satellite launch Center heading for sun-synchronus orbit carrying five satellites for three customer's constellations.
46. September 27th - Long March 2D with Shijian-19
A Long March 2D lifted off from Launch Site 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying the Shijian-19 spacecraft to low Earth orbit. Shijian-19 is China's first returnable and reusable satellite and will demonstrate best operational practices ahead of flights of similar spacecraft.
47. October 10th - Long March 3B/E with WHG-03
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology's Long March 3B/E lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the WHG-03, also known as internet high-orbit satellite, to a geostationary transfer orbit. This was also the 99th launch of a Long March 3B launch vehicle.
48. October 15th - Long March 6A with Qianfan Polar Group 02
A Long March 6A launched a second batch of eighteen Qianfan satellites to a polar orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, in the north of Shanxi province.
49. October 16th - Long March 4C with Gaofen-12 05
The Gaofen-12 05 satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center atop of a Long March 4C. Following launch, Gaofen-12 05 was tracked to a 586 by 599-kilometer 97.9-degree orbit.
50. October 22nd - Long March 6 with Tianping-3
A Long March 6 lifted off from Launch Complex 16 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying three Tianping-3 satellites to sun-synchronous orbit. The Tianping-3 satellites are expected to provide space environment surveys, orbital prediction model corrections, supporting imaging tests for ground optical equipment, and detection and monitoring tests of the low Earth orbit environment.
51. October 23rd - Long March 2C with Yaogan-43 Group 03
A Long March 2C blasted off from Launch Complex 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying three satellites for Group 03 of the Yaogan-43 constellation into low Earth orbit. The Yaogan-43 satellites are expected to test technologies for low Earth orbit constellations along with providing data for land surveying, disaster prevention, and monitoring of the Earth below as remote sensing satellites.
52. October 29th - Long March 2F/G with Shenzhou-19
Taikonauts Cai Xuzhe (蔡旭哲), Wang Haoze (王浩泽), and Song Lingdong (宋令东) blasted off from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center atop of a Long March 2F/G for the Shenzhou-19 mission to the Tiangong Space Station.
53. November 9th - Long March 2C with four PIESAT-2 satellites
A Long March 2C lifted off from Launch Area 4 at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying four PIESAT-2 satellites to a sun-synchronous orbit. The PIESAT-2 satellites are X-band synthetic aperture radar imaging spacecraft, as part of a potential constellation of sixteen.
54. November 11th - Kinetica-1 with fifteen payloads
CAS Space's fifth Kinetica-1 launched from the Jiquan Satellite Launch Center carrying fifteen payloads into sun-synchronus orbit using a 3.35-diameter fairing for the first time. The payloads onboard were Jilin-1 Gaofen 05B for a high-resolution imaging technology demonstration, Jilin-1 Pintai 02A03 for optical remote-sensing, Xiguang-1 04 for methane monitoring, Xiguang-1 05 for hyperspectral remote sensing, Oman's Intelligent Remote Sensing Satellite-1, six Yunyao-1 meteorological satellites, and three Shiyan-26 technology demonstration satellites.
55. November 13th - Long March 4B with Haiyang-4 01
A Long March 4B blasted off from Launch Complex 9 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying the Haiyang-4 01 satellite into sun-synchronous orbit. The Haiyang-4 01, also called Ocean-4 01, satellite will support ecological forecasting, water-cycle monitoring, marine environmental forecasting, short-term climate prediction, and global climate change research.
56. November 15th - Long March 7 with Tianzhou-8
A Long March 7 lifted off from Launch Complex 201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site carrying the Tianzhou-8 cargo resupply spacecraft into low Earth orbit, where the spacecraft began to chase down the Tiangong Space Station afterward.
57. November 24th - Long March 2C with Siwei Gaojing-2 03 & 04
A Long March 2C lifted off from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying two Siwei Gaojing-2 satellites to low Earth orbit for China Siwei Survey and Mapping Technology. The two satellites will provide all-day, all-weather, high-resolution imagery via the use of a phased array radar instrument.
58. November 27th - Zhuque-2E with Guangchuan 01 & 02
LandSpace debuted its upgraded Zhuque-2E launch vehicle with a mission from Launch Area 96A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Two Guangchuan satellites were delivered to low Earth orbit to test inter-satellite communications.
59. November 30th - Long March 12 for its debut mission
The Long March 12, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, made its debut flight at the end of November, flying from Commercial Launch Pad 2 at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site into low Earth orbit. Two satellites were also onboard for the debut flight, with them being Satellite Internet Technology Test Satellite and Technology Test Satellite 03.
60. December 3rd - Long March 3B/E with TJSW-13
A Long March 3B/E lifted off from Launch Complex 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center for its one-hundredth mission. For this mission, the rocket flew to geostationary transfer orbit carrying the Technology Experimental Satellite-13, the satellite will be used for radio, television, data transmission, satellite communications, and technology testing.
61. December 4th - Kuaizhou-1A with Haishao-1
An upgraded Kuaizhou-1A flew its first mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the Haishao-1 (海哨一号) satellite into low Earth orbit. Haishao-1 will be used to monitor ocean properties and changes.
62. December 5th - Long March 6A with Qianfan Polar Group 03
A Long March 6A blasted off from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying the third batch of Qianfan satellites into polar orbit. The Qianfan constellation aims to provide regular internet coverage in China by the end of 2025, followed by regular coverage worldwide by the end of 2027.
63. December 12th - Long March 2D with five High-Speed Laser Diamond satellites
A Long March 2D blasted off from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying five High-Speed Laser Diamond satellites into low Earth orbit. The satellites are expected to test inter-satellite laser communication across three different orbits, which they were deployed into by a Yuanzheng-3 upper-stage.
64. December 16th - Long March 5B with GuoWang Group 01
The first ten satellites of China's GuoWang internet mega-constellation were sent into a polar orbit by the Long March 5B, China’s second largest rocket, with a Yuanzheng-2 upper-stage.
65. December 16th - Long March 2D with four PIESAT-2 spacecraft
A Long March 2D lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying four PIESAT-02 satellites into sun-synchronous orbit. The PIESAT-2 spacecraft are part of Zhuzhou Space Interstellar Satellite Technology's commercial synthetic aperture radar imaging constellation which will have sixteen satellites once complete, twelve have been launched to date.
66. December 19th - Ceres-1S with four Tianqi satellites
Galactic Energy performed its fourth sea-based Ceres-1 mission from a launch platform in the Yellow Sea. Four satellites for Guodian Gaoke's Tianqi Internet-of-Things constellation.
67. December 20th - Long March 3B/E with TJSW-12
A Long March 3B/E lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the TJSW-12 satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit. TJSW-12, known as Communication Technology Experimental Satellite-12 in English, is reported for use in satellite communications, radio, television, data transmission, as well as technology testing.
68. December 27th - Kinetica-1 with eleven satellites
CAS Space performed China’s final launch of 2024 carrying eleven satellites onboard, including the rench CASAA-Sat and AZSpace’s Dear-3 spacecraft. Sadly the final launch of the year failed to reach orbit as the rocket suffered from an anomaly during the third-stage’s burn.
China in Space’s 2024
The newsletter has also had a brilliant 2024 while covering China’s space sector. This year one hundred and thirty posts were published with a total reader count just shy of ten thousand! Almost two thousand two hundred unique users also read at least one of the newsletters’ posts. (Figures as of December 29th 2024).
Heading into next year no changes to existing ‘content plans’ will take place, as such the newsletter will still be following each of China’s space launches shortly after they happen and collecting news for various space entities. Depending on the time between launches and other news extra content may be published too, a few op-eds are in the early stages of research and writing.
And from me, Jack C, thank you for reading China in Space this year. I hope to see you back here next year along with anyone you believe should also learn about China’s space sector. :)