China launched the Haiyang 2C satellite
On Monday, September 21, a Long March 4B rocket launched from the Jiuquan spaceport. The Haiyang 2C oceanographic satellite was placed into orbit.
The first flight of a Chinese military spaceplane
In early September, China carried out its first small military spaceplane mission. The details of the uncrewed flight, which lasted less than two days, were top secret and very little information was released.
Astronaut, cosmonaut or taikonaut?
Speaking of crewed spaceflight we use different names for those taking part in them: astronaut, cosmonaut, and in recent times even taikonaut. Why is there such distinction and is it today still justified?
First successful Iranian rocket launch in 5 years
On April 22, 2020 the Islamic Revolutionary Guard launched their first military satellite. It was also the first successful rocket launch from the Islamic Republic of Iran after five-year long hiatus.
The Indian crewed program faces problems
India aims to become the fourth nation to conduct a crewed space mission. So far only the Soviet Union and US managed this achievement in 1961 and 1962. The two were followed by the People’s Republic of China in 2003. The Indian crewed program ambitions could be thwarted by several problems including bureaucracy, political struggles and the COVID-19 pandemics.
India announces a new lunar mission
The first years of the 21st century saw China, Japan and India consecutively launch dedicated lunar research missions. The Chinese Chang’e 1, Indian Chandrayaan-1 and Japanese Kaguya missions all conducted remote observations of the Moon between 2007 and 2008. One could claim that a small lunar race was getting started. Although on the long-term China have successfully gained a lead in the exploration of the Moon, in this post I would like to focus on the Indian achievements.
China launched three Yaogan-30 satellites
On the 24th of March a CZ-2C rocket was launched from the Xichang spaceport (西昌) with three Yaogan Weixing satellites (遥感卫星), which translates as „remote viewing satellites”. This was the first successful Chinese launch since a failed flight of the CZ-7A rocket.
Failed launch of a Chinese CZ-7A rocket
The first launch attempt of the chinese CZ-7A launch vehicle failed in flight on the 16th of march. This was the third flight of a rocket from the CZ-7 familly.
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