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On CNSA –China National Space Administration    …. At. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China ……Chang’e7 probe safely arrived at Wenchang Space Launch Site, China# Launch planned for the second half of this year…. As of the evening of April 9, 2026, the probe carrying out the Chang’e7 mission# has been safely transported to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China via air-land combined transport. Subsequent pre-launch tests and preparations will proceed as planned.

Chang’e-7 has arrived at the launch site. The lunar landing will achieve high-precision landing, legged walking, and leapfrog technologies.

Long March 5 Y14 Rocket Safely Arrives at Wenchang Space Launch Site to Carry Out Chang’e-7 Launch Mission….

According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, on July 13, 2026, the Long March 5 Y14 carrier rocket, which will carry out the Chang’e-7 mission, safely arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. Subsequently, the rocket will undergo final assembly and testing at the launch site together with the Chang’e-7 probe, which arrived earlier. Currently, all participating systems at the launch site are carrying out preparations for the Chang’e-7 mission as planned. Both the Chang’e-7 probe and the Long March 5 rocket were developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. (Source: Xinhua News Agency, China Manned Space Engineering Office

 The Long March 5 Y14 rocket, destined for the Chang’e 7 mission, arrived safely at the Wenchang Space Launch Site on July 13, 2026. It will subsequently undergo assembly and testing at the launch site along with the Chang’e 7 probe, which arrived earlier. Currently , all participating systems at the launch site are carrying out preparations for the Chang’e 7 mission as planned.

On July 13, 2026, the Long March 5 Y14 carrier rocket, which will carry out the Chang’e 7 mission, will safely arrive at the Wenchang Space Launch Site and will be combined with the probe that is already in place to enter the final assembly and testing phase

 

 

. Delivery and Assembly Progress

• Rocket status : The Long March 5 Y14 rocket has safely arrived at the launch site and will subsequently undergo final assembly and testing at the launch site together with the Chang’e 7 probe, which arrived earlier.
• The Chang’e-7 probe arrived safely in Wenchang in April 2026 via air-land combined transport.
• Launch window : Launch is planned for the second half of 2026.

II. Mission Objectives and Detection Methods

• A new stage in lunar exploration : Chang’e-7 is China’s first probe planned to land on the lunar south pole, marking the transformation of deep space exploration from a detection-oriented to a scientific research-oriented approach
• Composition : The probe consists of four parts: an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a flyby.
• Core exploration : The mission focuses on exploring the environment and resources of the lunar south pole and searching for water ice
• 1. Breakthrough in key technologies
• High-precision landing : Breakthrough in high-precision fixed-point soft landing technology for complex terrain.
• A new way of walking : mastering legged walking and lunar flyby techniques.
• Shadowed crater detection : Master the technology for detecting permanently shadowed craters on the lunar surface.

III. Current Preparation Status

• System integration test : All participating systems at the launch site are carrying out preparations for the Chang’e-7 mission as planned.
• Escort mission : The Yuanwang 21, which was carrying out maritime transport missions, may have participated in rocket transport.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

On CNSA –China National Space Administration神舟二十三号Shenzhou23  Takionaut crew Embark On July 12^th , 2026, the Shenzhou-23 crew (Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Li Jiaying) successfully After nearly 50 days of “business trips to space,” the Takionauts looked back at this beautiful blue planet from the space station, feeling the warmth of home amidst their busy work.

 

The Shenzhou-23 crew has been in orbit for nearly 50 days, and the experimental list is constantly being updated, focusing on testing the physiological effects of human resistance to weightlessness, a variety of space science and application projects, and the installation of new extravehicular payloads

I. Space Life Science and Human Research Experiments

• Plantar pressure measurement: Studying the effects of weightlessness on gait and balance by using plantar pressure distribution data…
• Lower limb biomechanical testing: Collecting lower limb movement parameters of astronauts under microgravity to assess changes in muscle coordination patterns.17
• Muscle and tendon characteristic measurement: Using equipment such as ultrasound to monitor muscle atrophy and tendon stiffness changes, providing a basis for countermeasures.17
• One-year human adaptation study: Conducting a follow-up study on the physiological, psychological and metabolic adaptation of humans during long-term residence…

II. Frontier Science and Application Projects

• Zebrafish embryo and artificial embryo experiments: Using zebrafish and aquatic organism models to study the impact of space environment on early development.
• Mouse experiments: Conducting research on the mechanisms of in-orbit reproduction, behavior, and bone loss in mammals.
• High-performance rare-earth permanent magnet alloys: verifying the preparation and performance changes of rare-earth materials under microgravity in space.
• Verification of novel energy storage batteries: Testing the on-orbit charge-discharge cycle life and safety of high-energy-density batteries.
• Space radiation biology exposure experiment: After completing the fourth extravehicular activity (EVA) installation, a five-month on-orbit exposure study was conducted using three samples: nanozymes, actinomycetes, and plant seeds.

III. External Loads and Equipment Installation

• The Tianyun camera: It traveled aboard the Tianzhou-10 spacecraft and completed its assembly, testing, and extravehicular installation. As the first Hong Kong scientific payload to be deployed to the space station, it can monitor the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in the mid-to-low latitudes of the world with high precision.
• Space protection device installation: Proceed with the extravehicular installation of protective materials for the space station as planned to enhance its ability to resist micrometeoroids and space debris.

IV. On-orbit daily and health management

• Combined cabin care and health management: Regularly clean the cabin environment, inspect supplies, and maintain emergency supplies.
• In-orbit physical examination: Complete the entire system’s stress emergency drill, physiological indicator collection, and physical examination items.
• Space Baking: Crew members engage in food baking experiences during their free time to enrich their life in orbit

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

At  7^th 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.

China Achieves First Controlled Rocket Recovery -Long March 10B Rocket Successfully Achieves Controlled Recovery of First Stage

At 12:15 PM on July 10, 2026, the Long March 10B carrier rocket launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. Approximately six minutes after the first and second stages separated, the first stage returned vertically and was successfully recovered on a sea-based recovery platform.

This marks China’s first successful controlled recovery of a carrier rocket’s first stage, and also the world’s first network-based recovery of a carrier rocket. [Long March 10B Rocket Successfully Achieves Controlled Recovery of First Stage] At 12:15 PM on July 10, 2026, the Long March 10B carrier rocket launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. Approximately six minutes after the first and second stages separated, the first stage returned vertically and was successfully recovered on a sea-based recovery platform.

This marks China’s first successful controlled recovery of a carrier rocket’s first stage, and also the world’s first network-based recovery of a carrier rocket.

At 12:15 on July 10, 2026, the Long March 10B carrier rocket successfully completed the world’s first net-system recovery of a carrier rocket at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. The first stage landed vertically and was precisely captured by the sea platform.

 

 

I. Task Overview

• Launch time : Approximately 12:10 to 12:15 PM on July 10, 2026.
•  Launch site : Launch pad 2 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.1
• Recovery time : Approximately 6 minutes after the first and second stages of the rocket separated, the first stage was successfully recovered on the sea recovery platform
• Technological breakthrough : China has successfully implemented the first-stage controlled recovery of a carrier rocket for the first time, and it is also the world’s first verification of a carrier rocket’s net-system recovery

II. Highlights of Grid-Based Recycling Technology

• Capture method : The first stage of the rocket does not have landing legs installed. Instead, it has four sets of folding hooks at the bottom. When it descends to the airspace above the recovery ship, it is captured in the air by a high-strength flexible barrier net.
• Weight reduction advantages : It eliminates approximately 2 tons of dead weight on the landing legs, and the near-Earth orbit carrying capacity in the recovered state is still no less than 16 tons.
• Fault-tolerant design : The fault-tolerant window for recovery is widened to ±50 meters, and the requirement for engine thrust adjustment accuracy is relaxed from 1% to 5%.
• Specifications of the recovery vessel : The dedicated recovery vessel “Navigator” is 144 meters long and 50 meters wide, with a full load displacement of 25,000 tons, and is equipped with a DP2 dynamic positioning system.

III. Rocket Core Parameters

Parameters	index
configuration	The arrow has a two-stage, smooth shaft design, a body diameter of 5 meters, and a total height of nearly 70 meters.
Core Level 1 Power	Seven YF-100N liquid oxygen/kerosene engines (reusable), with a takeoff thrust of approximately 892 tons.
Secondary power	YF-219 Liquid Oxygen Methane Engine
Recovery status capacity	Low Earth orbit ≥16 tons, 900 km SSO orbit ≥11 tons
Reuse Target	The first stage has been reused more than 10 times, and the rocket body has a turnover time of approximately 72 hours.

IV. Recycling Process

• Primary and secondary separation.
• The grid rudder adjusts the attitude.
• High-altitude reverse thrust deceleration.
• Atmospheric reentry.
• Low-altitude depth throttling.
• Dynamic alignment of ship and rocket.
• Hook-lock cable flexible capture.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

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.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

On the Month of July 6^th 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”

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration