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On the day of 17^th April 2026   Hours Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China At  1210 afternoon  Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time  , the Chang Zheng -Long March 4C Yao 41 From The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China.. the Long March 4C carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully sending the high-precision greenhouse gas detection satellite into its predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success.

Both the satellite and rocket were developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The high-precision greenhouse gas detection satellite is an operational satellite in the national long-term development plan for civil space infrastructure. The satellite carries five payloads: an atmospheric lidar, a wide-swath hyperspectral greenhouse gas monitor, an ultraviolet hyperspectral atmospheric composition detector, an infrared hyperspectral atmospheric composition detector, and a cloud and aerosol imager.

The satellite operates in a sun-synchronous orbit and is equipped with five payloads: an atmospheric sounding lidar, a wide-swath hyperspectral greenhouse gas monitor, an infrared hyperspectral atmospheric composition detector, an ultraviolet hyperspectral atmospheric composition detector, and a cloud and aerosol imager.
It will be the first in the world to achieve joint detection of active and passive greenhouse gases, as well as joint detection of ultraviolet and infrared pollutants. Through the active lidar and wide-swath hyperspectral greenhouse gas monitor, it will conduct high-precision, large-scale, and high-resolution three-dimensional monitoring of global greenhouse gases. Employing combined space-ground-edge and ultraviolet-infrared methods, it significantly improves the spatial resolution and vertical detection capability of pollutants.

For this mission, the rocket used the Eighth Academy’s standardized 3800 composite material fairing, marking the first application of this product on a Long March 4 rocket. This fairing boasts advantages such as a large envelope, high wave transparency, and lightweight structure, effectively enhancing the rocket’s carrying capacity and mission adaptability.

I. Launch Status and Basic Information

• Time and location :
  The satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 12:10 Beijing time on April 17, 2026, by a Long March 4C carrier rocket, and successfully entered its predetermined orbit..
• Rocket and satellite developers :
  Both the satellite and the rocket were developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This mission marks the 638th flight of the Long March series carrier rockets
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Rocket technology optimization :
The Long March 4C rocket is the first to use the 3800 composite material fairing designed by the Eighth Academy, which has the advantages of weight reduction, strong wave transmission and improved space adaptability, significantly enhancing its carrying capacity.

 

 II. Innovation in Core Satellite Technologies

The satellite achieved two world-first technological breakthroughs, significantly enhancing global greenhouse gas monitoring capabilities:

• Active-passive combined detection technology :
  By combining active lidar with a wide-swath hyperspectral greenhouse gas monitor, high-precision, large-scale three-dimensional monitoring of global greenhouse gases can be carried out, solving the problem of insufficient accuracy of traditional passive detection.
• Simultaneous observation technology of nadir and edge :
  Simultaneously acquire information on the horizontal distribution and vertical structure of atmospheric components under imaging system, improve the efficiency of three-dimensional detection of pollutants, and significantly enhance spatial resolution and vertical detection capability

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III. Application Value and Network Collaboration

• Multi-domain data support :
  The satellite is equipped with 5 payloads (including atmospheric sounding lidar, greenhouse gas monitoring instrument, etc.), which can provide remote sensing data for the batch production of special products in natural resources, agriculture, forestry and grassland, meteorology and other industries, and serve the modern infrastructure system.2

• Dual-satellite collaborative observation network :
  After the satellite enters orbit, it will form a network with the “Atmospheric Environment Monitoring Satellite” launched in 2022, forming a morning and afternoon collaborative observation mode in a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, and building the world’s first space-based environmental monitoring platform that integrates active laser, ultraviolet, infrared and other comprehensive means.

IV. Strategic Significance and Social Impact

• Serving the nation’s dual carbon goals :
  Through high-precision monitoring of greenhouse gases, polluting gases, and aerosols, we support major national projects such as energy conservation and emission reduction, environmental diplomacy, and pollution prevention and control, and contribute to the implementation of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” strategy
• Contribution to global ecological governance :
  Satellite data will promote global climate change research, provide scientific basis for international climate negotiations, solidify the aerospace technology foundation for ecological civilization construction, and safeguard national ecological security

This launch marks the 117th launch of the Long March 4 series carrier rockets, the 263rd launch of the Long March series rockets developed by the Eighth Academy, and the 638th launch of the Long March series carrier rockets..

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

On the day 17 April 2026  of  Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 25 th November 2025 CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China Shenzhou21 Taikonaut Crew Successful!  Shenzhou-21 Crew Successfully Completes Third Extravehicular Activity….

At 01:36 Beijing time on April 17, 2026, after approximately 5.5 hours of extravehicular activity, the Shenzhou-21 crew of Takionauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang, working closely together with the support of the space station’s robotic arm and ground researchers, successfully completed tasks including installing space debris protection devices and inspecting extravehicular equipment and facilities. Takionauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei have safely returned to Earth …

This was Zhang Lu’s seventh spacewalk, continuously setting new records for the number of spacewalks and their duration for Takionauts..

The Shenzhou-21 Takionauts crew successfully completed their third extravehicular activity (EVA) early this morning, with Commander Zhang Lu setting a new personal record for Chinese astronauts with a total of seven EVAs .

🔍Core Task Information

• Task execution and results
  • Timeline : At 01:36 Beijing time on April 17, 2026, after approximately 5.5 hours of extravehicular activity, Takionauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei safely returned to the Wentian experimental module.
  • Core assignment :
    • Complete the installation of space debris protection devices to enhance the space station’s ability to withstand impacts from small debris;
    • Conduct inspections of external equipment and facilities to ensure the stable external operating status of the space station.1
  • Teamwork : Zhang Hongzhang provided full support inside the cabin, and the space station’s robotic arm worked precisely with the ground research team.1
• Astronaut’s personal breakthrough
  • Zhang Lu : He has completed a total of 7 extravehicular activities , surpassing the previous record of 6 held by Chen Dong, and becoming the Chinese astronaut with the most extravehicular missions.58
  • Wu Fei : As China’s youngest extravehicular astronaut (31 years old), he once again proved his operational capabilities.

🌌Mission Background and On-orbit Progress

• Preliminary work preparation
  • Since the second spacewalk on March 16, the crew has continued to conduct experiments in the fields of space life sciences and microgravity physics, and completed a full-system pressure emergency drill and material sorting.
  • The space station’s return was delayed due to a small debris impact on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft’s porthole; the installation of this protective device further reduces the risk of similar incidents.
• Adjustment of residency program
  • The crew has been in orbit for more than 5 months . After comprehensive evaluation, the mission period will be extended by about 1 month to deepen the verification of long-term residence technology and make full use of the supplies replenished by Shenzhou-22 spacecraft.
  • During the extended period, the astronauts will be in orbit to celebrate China’s Space Day on April 24 and International Workers’ Day on May 1, and continue to advance scientific experiment

🛡️Technical Highlights and Guarantees

• extravehicular spacesuit reliability
  • The new extravehicular suit (D/E type) used in this mission was first put into use in December 2025, with optimized thermal comfort and ease of operation, and has supported three extravehicular activities without any abnormalities.@XinhuaNet28
  • The previously deployed extravehicular activity suit B set a record for “supporting 20 extravehicular activities in 4 years”, demonstrating the high reliability of my country’s aerospace equipment.33
• Strategic value of protective devices
  • The space debris protection system adopts a multi-layered composite design and has a built-in sensor network to achieve millisecond-level impact location and damage assessment, thus building an “active + passive” defense system for the space station.
  • The Shenzhou series of missions has carried out eight special installations to date , covering 90% of the key peripherals of the space station.

🔭Outlook for future missions

• The crew will conduct experiments related to deep space exploration , including verification of human-machine collaboration technology and research on brain function under microgravity, to accumulate data for manned lunar landing missions.
• China’s space station is planned to be upgraded to a six- module configuration , and future extravehicular activities may further expand the protection system.

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

Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.

On the month of 16 April  2026, CASSPace The Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket successfully completed its final assembly and testing at the CAS Space Industrialization Base, passed its factory acceptance review, and is ready for launch. It is scheduled to carry out a “one rocket, five satellites” launch mission in the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone in the near future

The Lijian 1  Y13 carrier rocket has completed final assembly and testing and successfully passed factory acceptance. It is scheduled to launch five satellites in one launch from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in the near future . Among the satellites carried by the rocket is “Dianjian-1,” China’s first dedicated energy engineering satellite, which will be used to monitor millimeter-level displacements in hydropower projects, enhancing the full-lifecycle safety management capabilities of energy infrastructure. This mission signifies that the CAS Aerospace Industrialization Base has achieved pulsed, high-efficiency production capabilities, and its mass production and rapid delivery capabilities for rockets are continuously improving

. Latest Mission Progress and Launch Plan

• The Lijian 1
  Lijian 1 yao13 rocket, which is in its final assembly and testing phase at the CAS Space Industrialization Base, has successfully passed the factory acceptance review and is now ready for launch.
• Launch mission details
  • Time and location : The launch is planned for the near future at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia
  • Mission Mode : The mission will employ a “one rocket, five satellites” approach, sending five satellites into their designated orbits. The first dedicated energy engineering satellite, “Dianjian-1,” will be launched as one of the payloads. Weighing approximately 300 kg, this satellite is equipped with an X-band synthetic aperture radar capable of monitoring millimeter-level displacements of the Earth’s surface and energy infrastructure.

II. Rocket Technology Characteristics and Innovative Breakthroughs

• The launch efficiency advantage
  continues the “three horizontal and one vertical” (horizontal assembly, horizontal testing, horizontal transportation, and rapid docking and erection) launch mode of the Liji series. Technical factory preparation takes only 7 days, and it can be launched within 5 hours after transportation, with hourly emergency response capability.
• Cost and capacity optimization
  • Low cost : Through optimized design, launch costs have been reduced to approximately 60,000 yuan per kilogram, significantly lowering the barrier for small and medium-sized satellites to enter space.2
  • High production capacity : Relying on the pulsed production line, the rocket assembly cycle is shortened to 1 month, with an annual production capacity of over 10 rockets, which can be increased to 30 rockets in the future..
• The reliability verification
  mission, the 13th flight mission of the Lijian-1 series, demonstrated the rocket’s high reliability and strong performance capability, with a 100% success rate in the previous 12 missions, which have sent a total of 92 satellites into space with a total mass of over 12 tons into orbit.

III. Industrial and Strategic Significance

• This mission marks the achievement
  of CAS Space’s independent production of rocket modules throughout the entire process, with production capacity continuously ramping up, propelling China’s commercial space industry towards high-density, scheduled launches.36
• With enhanced international competitiveness,
  the Lijian-1 rocket has secured satellite launch orders from multiple countries (such as Mexico and the Middle East). Its low cost and rapid response capabilities have solidified China’s global position in the small and medium-sized satellite launch market. Future plans include expanding its maritime launch capabilities to accommodate more orbital requirements.

Note : The specific launch time has not yet been announced; please stay tuned for further official announcements. The “Power Construction-1” satellite’s millimeter-level displacement monitoring capability will fill the gap in high-precision monitoring of large-scale hydropower projects in China

Images and visuals are from their respectives

Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.

At 1203 afternoon on 14^th April   2026 Beijing time, CASSPace  the Lijian-1 Y12 carrier rocket, designated “International Textile City,” successfully launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China., accurately sending successfully launched eight satellites, including the Jixing Gaofen 07A02 satellite, into their predetermined orbits using the Lijian-1 Y12 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone. The launch mission was a complete success….

This mission marked the 12th flight of the LiJian-1 carrier rocket, once again powerfully demonstrating its high reliability, cost-effectiveness, and strong performance capabilities. The Lijian-1 Y12 carrier rocket….

China Successfully Launches 8 Satellites in One Launch …… To date, the Lijian-1 carrier rocket has successfully sent 92 satellites into space, with a total payload mass exceeding 12 tons. Leveraging its mature and stable multi-satellite launch configuration and precise separation technology, the Lijian-1 holds the record for the highest number of multi-satellite launches by a civilian commercial rocket (26 satellites in one launch), continuously demonstrating its industry-leading launch capabilities. Its impressive launch achievements have solidified its market competitiveness and firmly established China’s position in the commercial space industry

successfully carried out its maiden flight mission of the year, sending eight high-resolution optical remote sensing satellites, including the “Postal Savings Bank” satellite, into their predetermined orbits in a “one rocket, eight satellites” configuration, thus fully opening the prelude to the commercial spaceflight flight-based launch

Mission Background

• The launch site is located in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in Jiuquan, Gansu Province . The rocket is codenamed ” iNature ” and its body is painted with the “iNature·Love China” logo. It is a cross-sectoral cooperation project between China Natural Resources News Agency and CAS Aerospace, conveying the concept of ecological civilization

• This was the 12th flight of the Lijian-1 rocket, which has sent a total of 92 satellites into space, with a total payload mass exceeding 12 tons , setting a new domestic record for the highest number of satellites launched by a civilian commercial rocket (26 satellites in one launch

Satellite Name	Features and Uses
Postal Savings Bank	Postal Savings Bank of China and Changguang Satellite jointly developed and promoted the application of satellite remote sensing in financial scenarios such as credit risk control and overseas project monitoring.
Lucky Star High Score 07 Series	All eight satellites belong to this series, with a resolution better than 0.5 meters. They support co-orbit stereo imaging and agile imaging, and are used in fields such as land surveying and smart cities.

 II. Technological Breakthroughs and Commercial Value

• Flight-based launch capability
  • This mission employs a ” dedicated launch ” mode, customizing orbital parameters and launch windows based on satellite characteristics to achieve rapid scheduling and launch, significantly shortening the fulfilment cycle. The Lijian-1 rocket is scheduled to perform at least eight launches in 2026 , including two maritime missions.
  • Zhongke Aerospace has established an annual production capacity of 10 rockets, which can be expanded to 30 rockets per year in the future, solving the bottleneck of “many satellites but few rockets” in commercial aerospace.
• Low cost and high reliability advantages
  • The cost of a single launch of the Power Arrow-1 has been reduced to less than $10,000 per kilogram , the order response cycle has been shortened to 6 months, and it has the capability for rapid test launch in 7-10 days.

With 12 consecutive missions verifying technological maturity, the commercial space market is expected to exceed 80 billion yuan in 2026 , marking a turning point for the industry towards large-scale development

II. Innovative Applications and Social Impact

• Cross-border integration demonstration
  • The “Postal Savings Bank” satellite is the first financial-customized remote sensing satellite in China , exploring a new “finance + aerospace” model.237
  • The rocket body painting is a collaboration with Phoenix.com’s “WOW Made in China” brand, promoting the international dissemination of Chinese manufacturing.twenty four
• Industrial chain driving effect
  • The launch mission spurred a surge in A-share commercial aerospace stocks, with individual stocks such as Western Materials hitting their daily limit, and the satellite ETF rising by more than 3% in a single day.
  • Zhongke Aerospace is building a base in Guangzhou with an annual production capacity of 300 rocket engines, accelerating the layout of the aerospace industry chain in the Greater Bay Area

This mission marked the 12th flight of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket.

Images and visuals are from their respectives

At approximately 11 PM on April 8, 2026 Beijing time, the Long March 10B 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. . This marks the first time a rocket other than the Long March 12 has been launched from Launch Complex 2.

According to the current plan, the Long March 10B carrier rocket will launch from Launch Complex 2 at the end of this month, marking the maiden flight of the Long March 10 series carrier rockets. It might be in consideration will send several satellites   into orbit and attempt recovery not some kind of experiment.

So, what kind of awe will this large, bare-bones rocket, with a diameter comparable to the core stage of the Long March 5 and equipped with seven liquid oxygen/kerosene engines like the Long March 5

 

 长征十号Long March 10 series rockets used for manned lunar landing and other missions successfully completed the test of the first-stage rocket power system. During the test, the engine started normally, worked stably, shut down at a fixed time, and all parameters were tested normally. This test is the first system-level large-scale ground test of the Long March 10 series of launch vehicles. The matching of the first-stage booster delivery system and the engine, the propellant filling process, the multi-machine parallel power transmission and environmental characteristics and other technologies were fully verified.

Long March 10 rocket is a three-and-a-half-stage rocket developed for the manned lunar exploration project. The total length of the rocket is 92.5 meters, the takeoff weight is about 2,189 tons, the takeoff thrust is about 2,678 tons, and the Earth-Moon transfer orbit carrying capacity is not less than 27 tons. In the future, it will be used to launch a new generation of manned spacecraft and lunar landers. In addition, the Long March 10 has also designed another booster-free configuration that can perform space station Takionaut and cargo transportation tasks….

The engine is the power source of the rocket, and its development process is very complicated. Test run is an important link in the engine development process, and there are dozens of types. In layman’s terms, engine test run is the process of igniting the engine and verifying the rationality of its design scheme and process reliability. This is an indispensable and important part of the development and delivery of a type 1 engine. It will run through all stages before and after engine development. Each stage of test run has different meanings, and the ignition time varies from a few seconds to hundreds of seconds.

It is reported that the engine used in this test run uses advanced liquid oxygen kerosene as fuel, which is improved and iterated from the high-thrust liquid oxygen kerosene engine used by the new generation of launch vehicles such as the Long March 5. The thrust reaches 130 tons. The R&D team of the Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group adheres to the concept of digital design, and has successively overcome key technical problems such as engine start-up and shutdown sequence, engine wide-range continuously variable thrust, and engine long life and high reliability.

In addition, the continuous success of the test run has fully verified the reliability of a number of new carrying process technologies. The engine production of this test run adopts the concept of intelligent manufacturing, and actively applies new materials, new processes, and new technologies. The inner wall of the thrust chamber of the core component adopts a new protective coating, key assemblies adopt automatic welding technology, and a large number of components adopt 3D printing technology.

The Long March 10 series carrier rockets are a new generation of manned carrier rockets developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation for manned lunar exploration missions. The tethered fire tests of the Long March 10 series of launch vehicles were conducted in a step-by-step, phased approach, focusing on two objectives: performance verification of the seven-engine, parallel-stage engine power system, and verification of recovery and reuse. These tests aimed to capture the true payload environment characteristics of the seven-engine, parallel-stage system and verify the recovery procedures. These tests were a key measure to mitigate risks associated with the maiden flight.

The grid fins and recovery hook on the top of a Long March 10 test rocket are clearly visible, while the bottom appears to have leading-edge fins (correction: it should be external piping), giving a glimpse of the future of marine net-system recovery…

 

 

t somewhat resembles the Hongshan Jade Dragon, but the lower half presents a reverse-curving posture, and there’s an extra stroke on the right. What would the complete version of the paint scheme look like

 

 

 

The Long March 10B carrier rocket is scheduled to make its maiden flight from 11:00 to 12:00 on April 28, 2026 , at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site in Hainan. It will be the first to verify the world’s unique “sea-based net system recovery” technology and is expected to become China’s first carrier rocket to successfully enter orbit and be recovered.

I. Core Tasks and Technological Highlights

• First Flight Objectives and Innovative Recovery Plan
  • A world-first net-based recovery system : The rocket’s first stage is equipped with grid fins and a high-strength hook. It uses retro-rockets to decelerate and re-enter the designated area in the South China Sea, where it is captured by the 144-meter-long recovery vessel “Navigator,” which carries a 36-meter-high “well”-shaped flexible arresting net, achieving a “soft landing” without the need for landing legs. This design reduces weight by 15%, lowers the requirements for engine thrust accuracy, and aims to reduce launch costs to a long-term target of 20,000 yuan/kg. 

• Power and payload capacity : The rocket adopts a two-stage, bare-barrel configuration, with a body diameter of 5 meters and a total length of 69.67 meters. The core stage is powered by seven YF-100K/L liquid oxygen/kerosene engines in parallel (each with a thrust of 125 tons), providing a takeoff thrust of 892 tons. The second stage is equipped with one YF-219 liquid oxygen/methane engine . In recovered condition, it has a payload capacity of ≥16 tons to low Earth orbit at an altitude of 200 km and ≥11 tons to orbit at an altitude of 900 km, meeting the needs of satellite internet networking and lunar base construction

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

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