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  • Parsing Chinese Perspectives on the U.S. Space Force

    On 20 December 2019, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020 and established a sixth branch of the armed forces – the United States Space Force (USSF). On 14 January 2020, General Jay Raymond was formally sworn in as the inaugural Chief of Space

  • Overview of the PLA Air Force’s Integrated Air & Space Strategy

    This paper examines the “integrated air and space capability” 1 (kongtian yiti / 空天一体) component of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force’s (PLAAF) first ever service strategy, which was implemented to coincide with the PLAAF’s 10th Party Congress in May 2004 and represented a major milestone

  • China Opens a New Page in Lunar Exploration

    On January 3 at 10:26 AM Beijing time, China’s Chang’e-4 (嫦娥四号) spacecraft, housing the 140 kilogram Yutu-2 (玉兔-2) rover, set down in the polar region on the far side of the Moon. This high-risk, challenging mission has never before been attempted by any space agency. The non-Earth facing side of

  • China's super-sized space plans may involve help from Russia

     Full report and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-russia-space-rocketLong March 9LONG MARCH 9The Long March 9, when it flies around 2030, will be one of the world's largest space rockets, aimed at lunar and Martian missions.CCTV 1China recently provided the clearest look yet at one of the

  • China's hypersonic military projects include spaceplanes and rail guns

      Full report and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/chinas-hypersonic-work-speeds-upThe nation is focusing its research and development on tech that moves faster than the speed of sound.TENGYUNThe Tengyun spaceplane, first flight scheduled around 2020, will benefit from Chinese research into

  • Here's China's plan to compete with SpaceX and Blue Origin

     Full report and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/chinas-2020-plan-for-reusable-space-launchPrivate companies want to launch reusable space rockets in 2020.LONG MARCH 8The Long March 8, scheduled to start flying in 2020, has a completely reusable first stage, with powered descent for the core, and

  • Is China's space laser for real?

     Full article and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-space-laserIt's not a Death Star super laser. It's a space broom.IT'S NOT THIS.China's space broom isn't the Death Star super laser. It's an orbiting satellite with a laser only powerful enough to heat up pieces of space junk, so that they

  • China shot down another missile in space

     Full report and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-space-missile-testLike a hypersonic bullet hitting another hypersonic bullet.A HIT!On February 5, during the Chinese midcourse ABM test, the interceptor hit the target missile in space. Pictured here: the exhaust plumes from the DN-3 rocket

  • China could become a major space power by 2050

     Full article and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-space-power-plansPlans include launches, robotic moon bases, and interplanetary manned missions.SPACEPLANEThe China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation notes that its single-stage-to-orbit hypersonic spaceplane will be ready for service

  • China's future satellite navigation will be millimeter-accurate

     Full report and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-beidou-3-satellite-navigation-systemThe Beidou 3 will guide military munitions and drones.BBEIDOU LAUNCHThe Beidou satellite is usually launched by LM-3 space launch vehicles.by78China's military is updating its satellite navigation system,

  • CASI developing research

    The mission of CASI is to advance understanding of the capabilities, development, operating concepts, strategy, doctrine, personnel, organization, and limitations of China's aerospace forces, which include: the PLA Air Force (PLAAF); PLA Naval Aviation (PLAN Aviation); PLA Rocket Force (PLARF); the

  • China plans to launch rockets into space from massive freighters and planes

     Full article and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/chinese-space-rockets-launch-air-seaThe country wants to become a space superpower.LONG MARCH 11Thanks to its solid-fueled engine, the Long March 11 can be stored for a long time in a ready-to-fire mode.WeiboChina's land-based Long March space

  • China's first robot cargo spaceship just went into orbit

    Full article and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/chinas-first-robot-cargo-spaceship-tianzhou-1Tianzhou 1 is expected to be China's most prolific spacecraft.The Tianzhou 1, one of the world's largest unmanned spacecraft, can carry six tons of supply and two tons of transferable fuel to space