On CNSA –China National Space Administration神舟二十三号Shenzhou23 Takionaut crew Embark On July 5, 2026, the Shenzhou-23 crew (Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Li Jiaying) successfully baked a cake on the space station using a specially designed hot air baking machine. This marks the second time this year that Chinese astronauts have completed baking in orbit, signifying that the “freshly baked era” in space has become the norm.
Takionauts Baking Cake In Space
I. Latest News: Shenzhou-23 Crew Baking Cake in Space
Date : July 5, 2026, the China Manned Space Agency released the latest episode of “Tiangong TV”.
Crew : Shenzhou-23 astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan, and the first Hong Kong payload specialist, Li Jiaying.13
Results : Using China’s unique “space oven,” a cake was successfully baked, and Li Jiaying showed the finished product to the camera.
Background : The crew had previously used the same equipment to bake pumpkins, and this time they were baking cakes, which updated the “Tiangong menu” once again
II. Core Technology: How is Microgravity Baking Achieved?
Key difficulties
Technical solutions
Remark
thermal convection failure
The forced hot air circulation system, with its built-in fan, allows hot air to envelop the food in a three-dimensional manner.
Temperature can rise to 190℃
Oil fume pollution
High-temperature catalytic decomposition and multi-layer filtration purification system enable smokeless cooking.
Emission cleanliness is better than cabin standards
Food drift
Sealed baking pans, residue collectors, heating racks, etc., lock in the food.
Prevent debris from damaging the equipment
Heating efficiency
The cake took 28 minutes to bake, compared to 120 minutes for cookies to bake on the International Space Station in 2019.
Chinese ovens are far more efficient than their competitors.
III. Development Stages: From Initial Breakthrough to Regular Operation
New Year’s Eve debut (February 16, 2026) : The Shenzhou-21 crew completed the first-ever baking of a cake in space on New Year’s Eve, using a hot air baking machine sent by Shenzhou-21, which weighs about 5.8 kilograms.
Technical significance : It realizes the Maillard reaction (caramelization and browning) under microgravity, truly achieving “cooking” rather than simple heating.
Dietary evolution : This marks the transition of China’s space station’s food support from “survival-oriented” to “life-oriented,” allowing astronauts to enjoy freshly baked hot meals. The menu has been expanded to more than 190 dishes, with no repetition for 10 days.
IV. Crew and Mission Highlights
The Shenzhou-23 crew consisted of the third and fourth batches of astronauts, with Lai Ka-ying being the first astronaut from Hong Kong.
Mission Background : This cake-baking activity took place after completing demanding tasks such as installing the “Tianyun Camera” outside the cabin, and served as a way to relax during a work break.3
Lifelike Presentation : The latest Tiangong TV footage juxtaposes baking cakes with daily routines such as cleaning and medical checkups, showing that life in space is becoming.
On the Month of July 6th 2026, After approximately 400 days and 1 billion kilometers of flight, the CNSA – China National Space Administration – CLEP Tianwen-2 probe successfully rendezvoused with Earth’s quasi-satellite 2016HO3 in early July 2026. At a distance of 20 kilometers, it began scientific exploration and transmitted back heart-shaped images, earning praise from the media as “textbook-level deep-space piloting.” Subsequently, it will conduct multi-mode sampling and plans to return the samples to Earth by the end of 2027. Afterward, it will fly to the main-belt comet 311P to carry out a decade-long extended exploration..
I. Latest progress and key milestones of the mission
Successful rendezvous : In early July 2026, the Tianwen-2 probe successfully rendezvoused with asteroid 2016HO3 at a distance of about 20 kilometers, officially commencing scientific exploration.
First capture : On June 6, 2026, the probe captured images of the asteroid for the first time from a distance of about 30,000 kilometers.
Coplanar flight : On June 7, capture control was implemented at an altitude of 30,000 kilometers, achieving coplanar flight with the asteroid’s orbit.@Kaldarwalich25
Autonomous navigation : On June 19, it switched to fully autonomous navigation mode at a distance of 2000 kilometers.
II. Comparison of Key Engineering Data
project
Specific values
Total flight time
Approximately 400 days
Total flight distance
Approximately 1 billion kilometers
Current distance from the asteroid
20 kilometers
Target asteroid diameter
40-100 meters
asteroid rotation period
Approximately 28 minutes
Improved navigation accuracy
The error was reduced from hundreds of kilometers to the kilometer level.
III. Key Features of the Target Asteroid 2016HO3
Identity : Earth quasi-satellite, also known as Kamoʻoalewa, permanent number 469219.
Origin hypothesis : It may be lunar impact debris or a main belt captured celestial body, which has extremely high scientific research value.
Physical characteristics : An S-type silicate asteroid with a surface covered in gravelly rock fragments. In a microgravity environment, the probe needs to autonomously fly alongside it rather than fly around it
IV. Planning for the Next Two Steps
1. Detailed Exploration and Sampling (July 2026 – April 2027)
Gradually approaching : advancing from 20 kilometers, 3 kilometers to 300 meters, to conduct morphological, compositional, and internal structure detection.
Sampling methods : Three modes will be used: touch-and-go, hovering robotic arm, and world’s first anchored drilling. The plan is to collect at least 100 grams of sample.
Sample return : The return capsule is expected to re-enter the atmosphere at a speed of approximately 12 km/s and land on Earth by the end of 2027.13
2. Fly to main-belt comet 311P (after 2027)
Gravity slingshot : The main probe uses Earth’s gravity to accelerate and turn towards the main-belt comet 311P, which lies between Mars and Jupiter.
Exploration period : Approximately 7 years in total, with a total mission duration of approximately 10 years. The focus is on studying comet ejecta, internal structure, and the distribution of water ice in the early solar system.10
V. Focus of Public Opinion
“Textbook-level deep space driving” : The public and media highly praised its step-by-step autonomous navigation, error compression, and precise microgravity control.@ArmorResearcher2
“A Cosmic Heart” : The first images transmitted back by the probe showed that the asteroid’s outline was heart-shaped, sparking widespread discussion..
China-Japan comparison discussion : Some users compared it with Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission, emphasizing that Tianwen-2 is more technically challenging.
Distinguishing between accompanying and orbiting : Science bloggers point out that because the asteroid’s gravity is extremely weak, Tianwen-2 is actually “accompanying” rather than “orbiting”
At 7th July , 2026 Beijing time, the Long March 10B Yao 1 carrier rocket began erection at Launch Complex 2 of the CNSA – China National Space Administration- Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China. . At midnight on July 7, the Long March 10B Y1 carrier rocket was successfully transferred to Launch Pad 2 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.
Long March 10B Y1 Awaits Launch Window] China’s first 5-meter-class reusable rocket, the Long March 10B Y1, has been transferred to its launch pad and is scheduled for its maiden flight between July 10th and 13th. Its core mission is to verify the world’s first “ocean-based net-system recovery” technology, where the rocket is captured by a net from the dedicated maritime platform “Navigator,” which is expected to significantly improve launch efficiency and accumulate key technologies for manned lunar missions
The Long March 10B Y1 carrier rocket was transferred to Launch Pad 2 of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site at midnight on July 7, 2026. The maiden flight window is set for July 10-13, and it will verify the world’s first “sea-based net system recovery” technology.
I. Current Latest Status
At midnight on July 7, 2026, the rocket was successfully transferred to Launch Pad 2 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.
The dedicated marine recovery platform “Navigator” has arrived at Sanya Nanshan Port and completed its deployment.
The window for the maiden flight is set for July 10 to July 13.
II. Basic Rocket Information
1. Research and Development Unit and Positioning
The Long March 10B was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a commercial derivative of the Long March 10 series. It has stripped away the manned redundancy design and focuses on high-performance commercial cargo launches
2. Arrow body parameters
Arrow diameter: 5 meters
Total height of the rocket: approximately 70 meters
Arrow body configuration: two-stage smooth rod configuration
The Second Battalion Sergeant’s Stock Market Prosperity
3. Power System
Stage 1: Seven YF-100K/L liquid oxygen/kerosene engines in parallel (each with a thrust of 125 tons), generating a takeoff thrust of 892 tons.
The core objective of this maiden flight mission is to verify the world’s first “sea-based net system recovery” technology and to comprehensively assess the performance of the entire process, from the first-stage ascent phase to the return phase
2. Principles of Marine Net Recycling Technology
After the first stage of the rocket separated, it used grid fins to control its reentry trajectory and flew towards the designated sea area in the South China Sea.
The “Navigator” recovery ship (144 meters long and 25,000 tons displacement) is equipped with a 36-meter-high “well”-shaped flexible barrier net.
The first stage was precisely captured by the flexible net during the low-speed phase, achieving a “soft landing” without landing legs.
3. Technological Advantages
By eliminating the traditional hydraulic landing legs, the rocket’s weight is reduced by approximately 15%.19
Reduce the requirements for engine thrust accuracy.
The long-term goal is to reduce launch costs to 20,000 yuan/kg, a reduction of over 60% compared to existing rockets (approximately 60,000 yuan/kg)
4. Differences from SpaceX’s vertical landing approach
The Long March 10B uses a flexible net for capture at sea, eliminating the need for landing legs, reducing the weight of the rocket body, and increasing the fault tolerance rate, but it requires extremely high capture accuracy.19
SpaceX uses engine-driven thrusters and landing legs for vertical landing, a mature technology, but the landing legs are heavier and require more precise thrust control.
IV. Strategic Positioning
The success of the Long March 10B will accumulate technical experience for the subsequent Long March 10 basic model (manned lunar landing rocket) with a three-and-a-half-stage CBC configuration, supporting China’s goal of manned lunar landing before 2030.
V. Risk Warning
The first flight window, from July 10 to 13, may be adjusted due to technical adjustments or weather conditions. The final time will be subject to official announcements.
This maiden flight focused on testing the reliability of the network system’s recovery capabilities; further flight verification is needed to assess its long-term reuse stability
The launch cost target of 20,000 yuan/kg is a long-term plan and is difficult to achieve in the short term.
Ocean recovery is far more difficult than land recovery and involves a certain degree of uncertainty. Only when the entire process is successfully tested can it be put into large-scale commercial use.
On CNSA –China National Space Administration …. ChangZheng Long March 8A Carrier flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China , At 21:43 Beijing time on July 5, 2026, a Long March 8A carrier rocket successfully launched 15 Qianfan polar-orbiting satellites into their predetermined orbits from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. This mission marked the 656th flight
of the Long March series carrier rockets. The Long March 8A Y9 carrier rocket used in this mission was the first to feature an upgraded second-stage engine, and its pressurization and delivery system was simultaneously upgraded to a two-configuration state, better suited to subsequent satellite transport needs.
This mission was the maiden flight of the Long March 8A rocket after significant performance upgrades, completing verification of several key technologies, including flight profile orbital energy optimization and the new engine. The rocket’s payload capacity has achieved a leap forward, with record-breaking numbers of satellites carried in a single launch and total weight into orbit. The upgraded powerful payload capacity further solidifies the technical foundation for subsequent high-density, large-payload, and batch constellation launches.
Recent Key Updates on Launch Missions
July 5th Mission (Qianfan Polar Orbit 15) : At 21:43, the Long March 8A Y9 carrier rocket was launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, accurately sending 20 satellites into orbit using a “one rocket, 20 satellites” method. This was the 656th flight of the Long March series rockets. During the mission, the impact of Typhoon Maysak was effectively addressed, and the mission was successfully completed after dynamic adjustments to the launch window
July 4 mission (Qianfan Polar Orbit Group 13) : At 17:30, the Long March 6A carrier rocket was successfully launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in a “one rocket, eighteen satellites” manner. After this launch, the total number of Qianfan constellations in orbit reached 223 (including 5 experimental satellites and 218 networking satellites).
Cross-field coordination and high-frequency rhythm : Successful launches from the north and south launch sites within two days have verified China’s mature scheduling capabilities for multi-rocket formation coordination, parallel testing in multiple locations, and high-density launches and tests in commercial spaceflight
Qianfan Constellation Network Deployment Progress and Construction Plan
The “Qianfan Constellation” (also known as G60 Starlink), built and operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., is my country’s first mega-scale low-Earth orbit commercial satellite internet constellation to enter the formal networking phase. Its construction is progressing steadily according to the following milestones:
stage
Target size
Core missions and coverage
Current progress
238 (as of July 5)
During the intensive launch period, we are making an all-out effort to achieve the first-phase goal.
Phase I network construction
324
It is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, achieving regional network coverage.
Phase II Expansion
1296
The plan is to complete the project by 2027, achieving global network coverage.
Long-term planning
More than 15,000
Supports the integration of multimedia a
Key Technology Breakthroughs and Supply Chain Verification – **Leap in Launch Performance**: The Long March 8A Y9 rocket, which carried out the mission on July 5th, underwent its first upgrade to its second-stage engine, and simultaneously replaced its pressurized delivery system with a 2-configuration system. The upgrade optimized the flight profile and orbital energy, achieving new highs for both the number of rockets carried in a single launch and the total weight into orbit
**Innovation in Launch and Testing Efficiency**: Hainan Commercial Launch has established a parallel operation mode with dual vertical test stations for the Long March 8 series, increasing its annual launch and testing capacity to 30 launches; the Long March 6A rocket has simultaneously completed the modification of the second-stage propellant tank protection scheme and the optimization of the integrated external test and safety control equipment, significantly enhancing the efficiency of final assembly and testing in multiple locations..
**Mature Mass Production of Satellites**: The networking satellites were mass-produced by companies such as Gesun Aerospace and the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The breakthrough in flat-panel stacking technology from “18 satellites per rocket” to “20 satellites per rocket” proves that the flat design, thermal environment adaptability, and separation mechanism of low-Earth orbit satellites are fully mature, and the supply chain has the capability for monthly frequency delivery
🌍 Strategic Value and Commercial Prospects – **Seizing Low Earth Orbit Frequency Resources**: Low Earth orbit positions and communication frequencies follow the International Telecommunication Union’s “first-come, first-served” rule. Given that overseas constellations have already occupied a large number of high-quality orbits, the high-frequency, intensive launches of the Qianfan constellation represent a national strategic-driven resource defense effort, aiming to firmly grasp the initiative in space infrastructure.
**Filling the gaps and providing emergency support:** The constellation network will completely solve the network communication blind spots in ocean shipping, aviation internet, high-altitude deserts and marine scientific research, and provide an irreplaceable emergency information lifeline when extreme disasters cause damage to ground facilities.
**The industry is entering a period of performance realization:** Commercial aerospace is transitioning from the “proof of concept” stage to the “order delivery and operational monetization” stage. The upstream and downstream industrial chains, including satellite assembly, core onboard components (such as TR chips and radiation-resistant RF components), rocket propulsion, and ground terminal manufacturing, are experiencing a surge in orders, and the sector’s investment logic and commercial operation are maturing simultaneously.
At 1730 Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 4 July 2026 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration Successfully launched Chang Zheng – Long March 6A At 17:30 Beijing time on July 4, 2026, China successfully launched the Qianfan Polar Orbiting Satellite Group 13 into its predetermined orbit using a Long March-6A carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The launch mission was a complete success. This mission marked the 655th flight of the Long March series carrier rockets.
China successfully launched the Qianfan Polar Orbiting Satellite Group 13
At 17:31 on July 4, 2026, my country successfully launched the Qianfan Polar Orbit 13 group of satellites (the 13th batch of 18 Qianfan constellation networking satellites) using a Long March 6A carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. With this launch, the number of Qianfan constellation satellites in orbit has exceeded 200.
I. Core Facts
Launch time : 17:31 on July 4, 2026.
Launch site : Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.
Launch vehicle : Long March 6A launch vehicle.
Payload information : Qianfan Polar Orbit 13 Group of satellites, namely the 13th batch of networking satellites of the “Qianfan Constellation” project of Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., totaling 18 satellites.
II. Progress of the Qianfan Constellation Construction
This constellation is part of the “Qianfan Constellation” (also known as “G60 Starlink”) project of Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., and consists of low-Earth orbit broadband internet satellites.
The constellation plan is divided into three phases: Phase 1 deploys 648 satellites to provide regional network coverage; Phase 2 deploys 1,296 satellites to achieve global network coverage; and Phase 3 plans to deploy over 15,000 satellites to provide diversified service integration.
With this launch, the number of Qianfan constellation satellites in orbit has exceeded 200…
