iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

China's national day tomorrow. Wonder if the occasion will provoke the release of some new images from Tianwen-2...

Reposted by Andrew Jones

ESA Space Science @science.esa.int · 30/09/2026

Inspector Smile is ready for science! 🫡 This is Smile’s first ultraviolet view showing an auroral substorm. With the ultraviolet camera now operational, Smile becomes the first spacecraft since 2008 to capture the full ring of northern lights around the north pole in ultraviolet light. 🔭 🧪 ☀️

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

SpacePolicyOnline @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

NASA has selected the 1st of a new class of astrophysics Explorer satellites, Probe Explorers, to continue into Phase B. PRIMA is a far-infrared mission with a $1.2 billion cost cap (not incl launch), with launch in 2033 if confirmed to proceed to Phase C. www.nasa.gov/news-release...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

After engine hot fire test and funding round earlier this year, Spark Space recently completed tests on a first-stage oxidizer tank. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/70DTDK9pFO...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Yet another new Chinese launch company. Heng Space, led by a former chief designer from CALT, wants to develop 25 and 100 tonnes to LEO launchers. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FmfOasNmDM...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

HKOR 100 kg robot for the Chang'e-8 mission from Hong Kong.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Galactic Energy earlier this year presented a chopsticks at sea recovery plan for its Pallas-2 (20-58 tons to LEO) rocket.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Looks like Chang'e-8, related payloads, and possibly China's wider moon program, are undergoing changes. This follows a merger seeing China's human spaceflight agency, already in charge of crewed lunar efforts, take control of robotic Chang'e missions, formerly overseen by CNSA.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Mission update: START passed and expert review in July and they're now building the spacecraft. Mass increased to 300kg, starting orbit will be 500 km, flying on a Zhuque-3 in early 2028.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

At 0200 UTC today Galactic Energy's first Pallas-1 rocket lifted off from Jiuquan and successfully reached orbit. No stated payload, no first stage recovery attempt this time, but a big moment and step forward for the company. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mIAV8gstTY...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Tianwen-2 arrived at Kamo'oalewa nearly two months ago, and no updates since. Thankfully, space exploration historian Phil Stooke uncovered a few more pics from CNSA from the first encounter in early July. Hopefully an update soon.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Shenzhou-23 astronauts Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan competed a 5.5-hour EVA at 0359 UTC today. Tasks included external repair of Tiangong's solar panels and installation of space debris protection devices. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/OhnTIhrVw5...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Debut launch of Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 kerolox rocket set for early September 1 UTC from Jiuquan. No first stage recovery attempt expected.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The Chang'e-7 lunar south pole mission has been postponed into 2027, the China Manned Space Engineering Office, which also oversees the robotic program, has announced. Typically, no info given on next ideal launch window. www.cmse.gov.cn/xwzx/202608/...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Meanwhile, at Wenchang, the Long March 5 rocket to launch the Chang'e-7 lunar south pole landing mission is being rolled out.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Statement from Landspace. Successful booster recovery and Honghu 03 satellite sent into orbit. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/PPoU06ctr4...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Successful VTVL landing for Landspace with Zhuque-3 Y2. China's second second successful orbital booster recovery.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

We know very little at this stage, but this happened early in the flight. If it's related to the YF-100 engines, then that's an issue for Chang'e-7, currently scheduled to launch August 24.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A Long March 7A rocket that lifted off from Wenchang around 12:00 UTC today carrying an unknown payload exploded around 85 seconds into the flight. www.youtube.com/live/GBj4IB6...

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

Bleddyn Bowen @bleddb.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

This will be a very visible retrenchment of the UK for international science and space audiences. Also of note is the UK’s withdrawal of contributions from the Hawai’i and Chile telescopes.

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

vsamsondc.bsky.social @vsamsondc.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Me speculating that this could be another example of a "larger trend toward inspector satellites and an increased interest in having strong situational awareness of activities and hardware in GEO" spacenews.com/chinas-shiji...

spacenews.com

China’s Shijian-31 satellite is sweeping GEO using a unique orbit

China’s Shijian-31 satellite is sweeping GEO using a unique orbit A classified satellite launched by China in June is operating in a creative orbit, giving it a unique vantage point over the geostatio...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Looks like there's a NOTAM out indicating that the launch window for the Chang'e-7 lunar south polar landing mission opens at 0000 UTC August 24. Windows of 0000-0400 running through August 31.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The Long March 5 rocket to launch the Chang'e-7 lunar south polar landing mission has arrived at Wenchang spaceport. Launch could occur around late August. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kBXwck7GNe...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Onboard view of descent and views of the capture.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

CASC confirms orbit was successfully achieved (unnamed satellite) and plans to reuse the first stage by the end of the year. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/cNqvOWxkwm...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

This is big: China just launched the Long March 10B and caught the first stage out at sea with a net recovery system. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8VpyAMwNaV...

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

AMSAT-DL @amsat-dl.org · 07/07/2026

Tianwen-2 on HGA today and high data rate, likely more pictures and science data is coming...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

And another new asteroid! Here's Torifune, captured during yesterday's flyby by Hayabusa2. www.jaxa.jp/press/2026/0...

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

Michael Busch @michael-w-busch.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

That is not a normal rubble pile. Hmm...

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

michael @radplanets.com · 06/07/2026

relevant size comparison:

size of a tiny asteroid compared with the FIFA recommended football pitch dimensions. the asteroid would barely fill the penalty area!

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

Dr Pamela L Gay @starstryder.space · 06/07/2026

This is the image I've been waiting for! This is Earth's current quasi moon! There is a chance, this is a chunk of Moon that was cast off during an asteroid impact. YAY <insert muppet flail gif>

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Tianwen-2 had arrived. Here's asteroid Kamo'oalewa seen from 20 km away www.xinhuanet.com/20260706/eb8...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Launch 47: A Long March 8A lifted off at 1343 UTC today from Hainan commercial launch centre, sending the Qianfan polar group 15 LEO comms satellites into orbit. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Mp7Spec1o2...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

This was China's 46th launch of 2026, following the Long March 4B launch of Haiyang-2E from Jiuquan on July 1.

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Reposted by Andrew Jones

AMSAT-DL @amsat-dl.org · 03/07/2026

On July 4, Tianwen-2 is expected to approach within 20 km of Kamoʻoalewa, marking the start of the mission's most critical phase after a 13-month journey from its May 2025 launch. Doppler measurements from our 20m Bochum antenna indicate no or only small orbit adjustments during the last few day.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

JWST has taken a look at Kamo'oalewa, and we've got an interesting paper on this just in time. Fast rotator asteroid could be ~18m in diameter (ground-based estimates 40-100m), and hints that it's more like a rare E-type asteroid than a chunk of the Moon. arxiv.org/abs/2606.24017

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Liaoning province wants to establish a commercial marine rocket launch base, following the example of Shandong's Haiyang sea launch setup. www.ln.gov.cn/web/zwgkx/zf... via mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ExPOjuvJ5J...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Tianwen-2 sample return mission is expected to arrive at the near Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa tomorrow (July 4) at a distance of ~20 kilometres. Hopefully we'll also see the first images of the asteroid very soon. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/97RjX0XCVs...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

iSpace completed sea training for its recovery barge using a mock Hyperbola-3 first stage in mid-late June in waters off Yangjiang, Guangdong province. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/R6yxSYx9Yj...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Second Zhuque-3 launch and first stage recovery attempt is in the post.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Qingzhou-1 cargo spacecraft to be launched in early 2027, docking with Tiangong space station. Results from experimental Qingzhou-1 launch released. www.cas.cn/cm/202606/t2...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Mengzhou crew spacecraft airdrop test out of a Y-20 transport aircraft. The first orbital flight for Mengzhou could come later this year on the Long March 10A.

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Tiangong expansion: China to launch the Xuntian space telescope to co-orbit with Tiangong in 2027. Further plans to expand the space station from T-shape to X or "干" shape (from 3 to 6 modules), facilitated by launch of 20-tonne multi-function module. content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/in...

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Andrew Jones @andrewjonesspace.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Tsinghua University students are building the $2.8M smallsat START mission to intercept asteroid Apophis at 7 km. START to launch in early 2028 as a rideshare payload on a Zhuque-3, then raising to 31,600 km orbit. Will make flyby during peak tidal-stress window at 8.74 km/s.

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