China took a major step forward in its lunar and human spaceflight programs late Tuesday with successful in-flight abort and rocket recovery tests.

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A little more than a year after dismissing the moon as a “distraction,” Elon Musk says SpaceX will focus on lunar settlement before sending humans to Mars.

The post Musk says SpaceX focus is on the moon rather than Mars appeared first on SpaceNews.

China appears set for an in-flight abort test of its new-generation Mengzhou spacecraft next week in a key step for the country’s human spaceflight plans.

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China appears set to accelerate its launch rate this year while also conducting tests key to its crewed lunar ambitions and launching major missions.

The post China set for crewed lunar tests, record launches, moon mission and reusable rockets in 2026 appeared first on SpaceNews.

China’s astronaut corps has completed a near month-long underground cave training, conducted in part to prepare for future crewed lunar landing missions.

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China is building towards a debut Long March 10 rocket launch in what will be a major test for the country’s crewed lunar landing plans.

The post China plans 2026 debut of new rocket for crewed lunar and LEO missions appeared first on SpaceNews.

As shown by the recent SpaceNews editorials by Mustafa Bilal and Stirling Forbes, there is currently much talk of a coming lunar “gold rush,” with nations and companies seemingly in a […]

The post Avoiding a harmful lunar ‘gold rush’ appeared first on SpaceNews.

The renewed interest in the moon can arguably be traced back to the 2009 discovery of water ice on the lunar surface. Much of the narrative in the intervening decade […]

The post For new lunar collaboration, look to India and Japan appeared first on SpaceNews.

As the world watches the push for crewed lunar missions, it is tempting to frame the unfolding dynamic between the United States and China as a modern-day space race, with […]

The post Why the moon is not the South China Sea: reframing lunar space ahead of the next ‘race’ appeared first on SpaceNews.

A new race to the moon is underway; not merely to erect flags, but to prospect for and extract water and helium-3, establish nuclear power plants and capitalize on the […]

The post Resources, reactors and rivalries will decide the new moon race appeared first on SpaceNews.

China aims to conduct the first launch of its Long March 10 rocket and a lunar-capable crew spacecraft next year, according to a top official.

The post China targets 2026 for first Long March 10 launch, new lunar crew spacecraft flight appeared first on SpaceNews.

In recent years, a popular slogan in the space industry has been, “We are entering the Golden Age of space exploration.” Indeed, we have witnessed unprecedented advancements in launch vehicles, […]

The post Let’s not allow the ‘Golden Age’ of space exploration to turn into fool’s gold appeared first on SpaceNews.

The United States’ goal of completing a crewed moon mission before China has been coined as the new space race, reminiscent of the days of Apollo. Similar to Apollo and […]

The post A soft power strategy to preserve non-sovereignty from Chinese land claims on the moon  appeared first on SpaceNews.

The first space race was about getting to the moon. Today’s race to the moon and Mars is about staying there.

The post The next space race will be won at night appeared first on SpaceNews.

China is preparing a series of tests and launches in the final quarter of 2025 crucial to its crewed moon program and commercial rocket plans.

The post China set for high-stakes moon program and reusable launch tests to close out 2025 appeared first on SpaceNews.

China conducted a rocket stage hot fire test Friday in the latest step in the country’s plans to land astronauts on the moon.

The post China completes second hot-fire test for new moon rocket, including engine restarts appeared first on SpaceNews.

For more than six decades, NASA has been the world’s lodestar for exploration. We designed the rockets, trained the astronauts and landed on the moon when the idea was barely […]

The post NASA needs bold leadership — or we’ll be watching on TV while Beijing lands on the moon appeared first on SpaceNews.

China has conducted the first static fire of a seven-engine first-stage test article for the rocket that will carry its astronauts to the moon.

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China has completed an integrated landing and ascent test of its Lanyue lunar lander, marking a major milestone in its crewed moon landing program.

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In this bonus edition of Space Minds, host David Ariosto moderates the panel "Mission to Market: The Evolution of CLPS" at the AIAA Ascend conference.

The post Mission to market – The evolution of NASA’s CLPS program  appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Canadian Space Agency awarded initial study contracts July 29 for a lunar utility rover as part of the country’s push to deepen its role in the U.S.-led Artemis program.

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America once led the world to the stars. Today, Congress is propping up pork barrel rocket programs while China builds the future. Here's how we fix it — before it's too late.

The post How China will own the moon — unless we act now appeared first on SpaceNews.

China appears to have conducted structural verification tests on its new Long March 10A rocket, according to a coded update.

The post China conducts structural tests for Long March 10 human spaceflight rocket appeared first on SpaceNews.

In this week’s episode of Space Minds we bring you a special panel discussion on the future of commercial lunar exploration which was recorded live during the build-up to a historic moon landing.

The post The business case for the moon  appeared first on SpaceNews.