https://spacewatch.global/tag/china/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:51:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/china/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/china-launches-pakistans-indigenously-built-prsc-eo3-earth-observation-satellite-into-orbit/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73406 China has launched Pakistan's indigenously-built PRSC-EO3 Earth observation satellite, strengthening Pakistani EO capability and technological self-reliance.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/spacewatchgl-insights-the-hockey-stick-and-the-doorstop-a-story-of-two-growth-curves/ Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70292 The past few years have seen a massive acceleration in number of satellites launched by China, from 111 in 2021 to 378 in 2025. Launch growth has not kept pace, with 2021 seeing 51 launches, and 2025 seeing 88. Impressive growth, but not quite the > 3x that we've seen from satellites.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/algeria-launches-alsat-3a-earth-observation-satellite-in-partnership-with-china/ Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70546 Algeria has successfully launched its ALSAT-3A Earth Observation satellite to a sun-synchronous orbit to support its land-use planning initiatives while significantly enhancing the country’s capabilities in disaster prevention and mitigation. Launched aboard a Long March-2C rocket at the Jiquan Satellite Launch Center, the satellite results from Algeria's remote sensing satellite system program, a joint project between China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and the Algerian Space Agency.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/spacewatchgl-venture-space-october-2025/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68929
Written by Connor Sattely
October was another strong month for global VC investment in space-tech, topping $1.2b for only the second time this year. A total of $1.22b was invested in 23 deals. Two megarounds from the countries receiving the most VC investment in space-tech - China and the United States - led the way with over $860m combined capital raised. China’s dominance in the leaderboard returned this month with three of the top four investments being megarounds for Chinese startups: Beijing Galaxy Power Aerospace Technology ($337m Series D), Geespace ($281m Series C), and Beijing Interstallar Glory Space Technology ($98m Series D+) led the way, joined by the USA’s Apex ($200m Series D) to round out the top 4.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/spacewatchgl-chasing-falcon-9-chinas-new-launch-vehicles-gear-up/ Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68758
Written by Blaine Curcio
As the deployment of low-Earth-orbit satellite-internet constellations enters a critical phase, demand for high-capacity, low-cost launch has soared. Despite this, production ramp-up of the state-built Long March series of rockets has not kept pace with demand, with SOEs preferring a “slow and steady” approach that prioritizes reliability over rapid iteration. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/spacewatchgl-venture-space-march-2025/ Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65576
Written by Connor Sattely
March 2025 was a banner month for spacetech VC investment, with a whopping 31 deals receiving USD $435m in funding. This ties March 2025 for the highest-activity month since 2023 (in number of deals).]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/03/china-to-train-and-select-pakistani-astronauts-for-joint-tiangong-missions/ Mon, 03 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64231 China and Pakistan have signed an agreement that will enable the training of Pakistani Astronauts and their eventual flight selections to the Tiangong Space Station for short-term cooperation missions with Chinese astronauts. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/12/pssi-special-ep-05-china-russia-space-partnership-dynamic-and-implications-for-global-security/ Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:30:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62885 Welcome to the last episode of our special five episode podcast mini-series, crafted in collaboration with PSSI, the Prague Security Studies Institute. In this episode, Emma speaks with Dean Cheng, a consultant on Asian affairs and senior advisor to the U.S. Institute of Peace. Dr. Cheng delves into the complexities of the China-Russia relationship, highlighting their shared antipathy towards the West but differing ambitions and capacities.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/spacewatchgl-chinas-quest-for-space-technology-dominance/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61961 Written by Namrata Goswami

China has designated space technology as a key strategic long-term asset. These aspects are visible by the amount of time, top Chinese leaders invest in China’s space program. Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xi Jinping met with the representatives of space scientists and engineers of the Chang’e 6 Lunar mission on September 23, 2024. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/shenzhou-19-crew-launches-to-tiangong-space-station/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62060 China has successfully launched a three-person crew on the Shenzhou-19 mission to the Tiangong Space Station from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March-2F rocket. The spaceship subsequently made a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the front port of the space station's core module Tianhe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/spacewatchgl-opinion-bridging-worlds-unveiling-chinas-space-sector/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61587 Written by Dr. Farid Gamgami,

Living in China and working in the space sector gives me the unique opportunity to look deeply into an ecosystem that is otherwise hidden from most people in the Western world. Hidden, not because of secrecy, but because of a language and cultural barrier that is difficult to understand and overcome from a distance, leading to constant misinterpretation. One of these occasions was the 2nd Tiandu Forum, held from 4 to 6 September in the picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site of Huangshan. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/dr-jana-robinson-of-pssi-on-europes-space-strategy-north-atlantic-lessons/ Wed, 02 Oct 2024 08:00:08 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61452 Dr. Jana Robinson from the Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI), a prominent security think tank in Prague and Washington, DC, discusses European opportunities to learn from North Atlantic partners in implementing space ambitions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/08/chinese-rocket-body-generates-space-debris-objects-in-leo/ Tue, 13 Aug 2024 06:00:38 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=56543 A Chinese rocket launch involving the Chinese rocket body, CZ-6A  from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, has reportedly resulted in a fragmentation that has subsequently created about 700 new debris objects in low earth orbit. The fragmentation followed the launch of CZ-6A on 6 August at ~06:42 UTC and the deployment of its 18 payloads. Several space outfits have independently reported the fragmentation, including LeoLabs, Slingshot Aerospace, and Okapi:Orbits. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/07/space-foundation-reports-7-4-global-space-economy-growth/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 06:00:15 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=56165 Space Foundation has reported the size of the 2023 global space economy to be $570 billion in 2023, an increase of 7.4% from 2022’s revised sum of $531 billion, a total that represents the continued growth of the industry in the public and private sectors. This growth is consistent with the industry’s five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% and is nearly double the size of the space economy a decade ago.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/06/change-6-returns-samples-from-far-side-of-the-moon/ Wed, 26 Jun 2024 06:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55818 The Chang'e-6 lunar probe has successfully returned to the Earth with unexplored samples from the lunar south pole, landing in the Inner Mongolia desert on Tuesday, after a 53-day-long mission. China is consequently the first country to return lunar samples from the previously unexplored far or dark side of the moon. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) described the mission as "a complete success" and said the probe is functioning normally.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/06/spacewatchgl-opinion-chandrayaan-3-indias-foothold-on-the-moon/ Thu, 20 Jun 2024 08:00:16 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55501 On Friday, 23rd August 2023, moments after confirming the successful soft landing of the Vikram lander with the words “we are on the Moon,” ISRO Chairman Somnath invited Indian Prime Minister Modi to speak. Unlike September 2019, during the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 lander mission, Modi was not in Bangalore but in South Africa, attending a BRICS meeting. This mission, a product of national political and financial commitment, attracted international acclaim.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/06/change-6-completes-lunar-rendezvous-in-time-for-home-trip/ Fri, 07 Jun 2024 06:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55538 The Chang'e-6 moon probe's ascender module has completed its rendezvous and subsequently docked with the orbiter and returner assembly in the lunar orbit. The lunar samples then transferred to the returner module in preparation for its journey back to the Earth. On June 2, the Chang'e-6 lander and ascender assembly, with the support of the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, successfully landed in the landing area in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the moon's South Pole.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/05/china-prepares-to-land-change-on-the-far-side-of-the-moon/ Fri, 31 May 2024 06:00:09 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55420 China is preparing to land its Chang'e vehicle on the dark side of the moon after it launched the vehicle from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center three weeks ago. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the landing is now set for 00:00 UTC on the second of June. The spacecraft aims to collect about two kilograms of lunar samples from the unexplored lunar south pole, including lunar soil and rocks, which it will subsequently try to return to Earth. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/05/china-launches-beijing-3c-remote-sensing-satellite-constellation/ Tue, 21 May 2024 06:00:27 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55267 China has launched the Beijing-3C satellite constellation aboard the Long March-2D carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, launching four Beijing-3 optical remote sensing satellites into orbit. This was the 523rd flight mission of the Long March rocket series. The Long March-2D carrier rocket also previously launched Beijing-3A and Beijing-3B satellites into orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/05/space-cafe-radio-ispace-and-the-japanese-space-journey/ Fri, 10 May 2024 08:00:03 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=54776 This episode features an interview with Takeshi Hakamada, the founder and CEO of ispace, discussing Japan's significant role in lunar exploration, following the news that Japan will be the first country to send non-Americans to the Moon.]]>