List of launchers and projects

Here’s a list of some of China’s notable launchers and space projects:

Launchers:

• Air-Launched SLV: Capable of carrying a payload of 50 kilograms or more to a 500 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
• Ceres-1: Small solid-fueled launch vehicle by a private firm with frequent launches.
• Gravity-1: Medium-lift solid fuel launch vehicle designed for sea launch, currently in development.
• Hyperbola-1: Small solid-fueled launch vehicle developed by a private firm.
• Hyperbola-3: Medium-lift liquid-fueled launch vehicle with a reusable first stage under development by a private firm.
• Jielong 3: Small to medium-lift solid fueled launch vehicle currently operational.
• Kaituozhe-1A: Quick-reaction small-lift solid fuel launch vehicle.
• Lijian-1: Small to medium-lift solid fuel launch vehicle currently in service, developed by a commercial spin-off of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
• Lijian-2: Medium-lift launch vehicle utilizing liquid fuel with a reusable first stage, under development.
• CZ-2E(A): Designed for launching Chinese space station modules, with a payload capacity of up to 14 tons in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• CZ-2F/G: Modified version used for launching robotic missions such as Shenzhou cargo and space laboratory modules.
• CZ-3B(A): More powerful Long March rocket with larger-size liquid propellant strap-on motors.
• CZ-3C: Launch vehicle combining CZ-3B core with boosters from CZ-2E.
• Long March 4C: Launch vehicle.
• CZ-5: Heavy-lift hydrolox launch vehicle with kerolox boosters.
• CZ-5B: Variant for low Earth orbit payloads.
• CZ-6: Small launch vehicle for small satellites up to 500 kg to 700 km SSO.
• CZ-7: Medium-lift kerolox launch vehicle for resupply missions to the Tiangong space station.
• CZ-8: Medium-lift launch vehicle for payloads to SSO orbits.
• CZ-9: Super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development with a LEO lift capability of 150 tonnes.
• CZ-10: Crew-rated super-heavy launch vehicle for crewed lunar missions.
• CZ-10A: Crew-rated medium-lift launch vehicle for launching next-generation crewed spacecraft to LEOs with reusable first stage.
• CZ-11: Small-lift solid fuel quick-response launch vehicle.
• Pallas-1: Reusable medium-lift liquid fuel launch vehicle currently under development by a private firm.
• Project 921-3: Reusable launch vehicle project of the reusable shuttle system.
• Tengyun: Project of a two wing-staged reusable shuttle system.
• Reusable Spaceplane: Vertically-launched spaceplane with wings currently in service.
• Tianlong 2: Medium-lift kerolox launch vehicle from a private firm.
• Tianlong 3: Medium to heavy-lift kerolox launch vehicle with a reusable first stage under development by a private firm.
• Zhuque-2: Medium-lift liquid fuel launch vehicle by a private firm currently in service.
• Zhuque-3: Medium to heavy-lift methalox launch vehicle by a private firm with reusable first stage under development.

Cancelled/Retired:

• CZ-1D: Based on CZ-1 with a new second stage.
• Project 869: Reusable shuttle system project.

Space exploration:

China has a program for sending people into space called the Crewed LEO Program. In this program:

• Project 921-1 is about the Shenzhou spacecraft, which carries astronauts into space.
• Tiangong is the name of the first three Chinese Space Laboratories where astronauts work and live.
• Project 921-2 aims to build a permanent Chinese Space Station in space.
• Tianzhou is a robotic cargo ship that brings supplies to the Chinese Space Station and takes out trash.
• There’s a new version of the Shenzhou spacecraft, which will also carry cargo to the space station and back to Earth.
• Project 921-11 is about a reusable spacecraft for the Space Station.
• Tianjiao-1 or Chang Cheng-1 are spaceplanes from an old project, while Shenlong and Tengyun are from newer projects. These are all spaceplanes meant for different missions.
• There’s also a project for a special space shuttle that uses magnetic levitation to help launch into space.

China also has a program for exploring the Moon:

• First, they sent Chang’e 1 and Chang’e 2 to orbit the Moon in 2007 and 2010.
• Then, Chang’e 3 and Chang’e 4 landed on the Moon in 2013 and 2018.
• Chang’e 5-T1 and Chang’e 5 collected samples from the Moon in 2014 and 2020.
• Next, they plan to send Chang’e 6 to bring back samples from the far side of the Moon in 2024. They’ll also send Chang’e 7 and Chang’e 8 to explore the south pole of the Moon for resources. They might even try to 3D-print things using Moon rocks!
• China also aims to send people to the Moon by 2030 using new spacecraft and a lunar lander.

Chinese space program and achievements: China’s space program is all about what China does in outer space. It started back in the 1950s when China teamed up with the Soviet Union to build rockets and missiles. In 1970, China launched its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1, into space.

China’s space activities are managed by groups like the China National Space Administration and the People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force. They have big programs for human spaceflight, navigation satellites, exploring the Moon, and more. Some recent missions include sending rovers to Mars and the Moon and building their space station called Tiangong.

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