Editing Chinese space program (section)

===2020-present===
[[File:Chinese Tiangong Space Station.jpg|220px|left|thumb|alt=Tiangong Space Station after its completion in November, 2022.|[[Tiangong Space Station]] after its completion in November, 2022.]]
[[File:Shenzhou-15 spacewalk.jpg|thumb|alt=Astronaut Fei Junlong performing spacewalk on Tiangong Space Station|Astronaut [[Fei Junlong]] performing spacewalk on Tiangong Space Station]]
[[File:First gathering on Tiangong.jpg|thumb|alt=First gathering of two Chinese astronaut crews on Tiangong Space Station on November 30, 2022.|First gathering of two Chinese astronaut crews on Tiangong Space Station on November 30, 2022]]

Being the product of latest technology and engineering by Chinese space industry in the early 21st century, the flight-proven Long March 5 unleashed the potential of Chinese space program to a great extent. Various projects previously restricted by the mass and size limits of the payloads were now offered a chance of realization. Ever since 2020, with the help of Long March 5, the Chinese space program has made tremendous progress in multiple areas by completing some of the most challenging missions ever conducted in history of space explorations, impressing the world like never before.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The "Third Step" of China Manned Space Program kicked off in 2020. [[Long March 5B]], a variant of Long March 5, conducted its maiden flight successfully on May 5, 2020. Its high payload capacity and large payload fairing space enabled the delivery of Chinese space station modules to low Earth orbit.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=Long March 5B launch clears path for Chinese space station project |url=https://spacenews.com/long-march-5b-launch-clears-path-for-chinese-space-station-project/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=5 May 2020}}</ref> On April 29, 2021, [[Tianhe core module|''Tianhe'' core module]] ({{Zh|s=天和核心舱|labels=no}}), the 22-tonne core module of the space station, was successfully launched into Low Earth orbit by a Long March 5B rocket,<ref name="Tianhe-launch">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/china-launches-tianhe-space-station-core-module-into-orbit/ |title=China launches Tianhe space station core module into orbit |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=April 29, 2021 |access-date=21 May 2021}}</ref> marking the beginning of the construction of the [[China Space Station]], also known as [[Tiangong Space Station|''Tiangong'']] ({{Zh|s=天宫空间站|labels=no}}), followed by unprecedented high frequency of human spaceflight missions. A month later, China launched [[Tianzhou 2|Tianzhou-2]], the first cargo mission to the space station.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=William |title=China launches Tianzhou 2, first cargo mission to new space station |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/tianzhou-2-launch/ |website=NASASpaceflight.com |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=29 May 2021}}</ref> On June 17, [[Shenzhou 12|Shenzhou-12]], the first crewed mission to the Chinese Space Station consisting of [[Nie Haisheng]], [[Liu Boming (astronaut)|Liu Boming]] and [[Tang Hongbo]], was launched from Jiuquan.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davenport |first1=Justin |title=Shenzhou-12 and three crew members successfully launch to new Chinese space station |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/06/shenzhou-12-new-chinese-station// |website=NASASpaceflight.com |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=16 June 2021}}</ref> The crew docked with Tianhe and entered the core module about 9 hours after launch, becoming the first residents of the station. The crew lived and worked on the space station for three months, conducted two spacewalks, and returned to Earth safely on September 17, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=China brings astronauts back, advances closer to "space station era" |url=http://www.news.cn/english/2021-09/17/c_1310193742.htm |publisher=Xinhua Net |access-date=17 September 2021 |date=17 September 2021}}</ref> breaking the record of longest Chinese human spaceflight mission (33 days) previously made by Shenzhou-11.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=Shenzhou-12 astronauts return to Earth after 3-month space station mission |url=https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-12-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-3-month-space-station-mission/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=7 September 2021}}</ref> Roughly a month later, the [[Shenzhou 13|Shenzhou-13]] crewed was launched to the station. Astronauts [[Zhai Zhigang]], [[Wang Yaping]] and [[Ye Guangfu]] completed the first long-duration spaceflight mission of China that lasted for over 180 days before returning to Earth safely on April 16, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Tyler |title=Shenzhou-13 mission ends with safe return of Chinese taikonaut trio |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/04/shenzhou-13-return/ |website=NASASpaceflight.com |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=15 April 2022}}</ref> Astronaut [[Wang Yaping]] became the first Chinese female to perform a spacewalk during the mission.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=China's first female spacewalker helps outfit space station robotic arm |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/11/09/chinas-first-female-spacewalker-helps-outfit-space-station-robotic-arm/ |website=spaceflightnow.com |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=9 November 2021}}</ref>

Starting from May 2022, the China Manned Space Program had entered the space station assembly and construction phase. On June 5, 2022, [[Shenzhou 14|Shenzhou-13]] was launched and docked to Tianhe core module. The crew, including [[Chen Dong (taikonaut)|Chen Dong]], [[Liu Yang (taikonaut)|Liu Yang]] and [[Cai Xuzhe]], were expected to welcome the arrival of two space station modules during the six-month mission.<ref name="shenzhou14plan">{{cite web |title=神舟十四号载人飞行任务新闻发布会召开 |url=http://www.cmse.gov.cn/xwzx/202206/t20220604_49962.html |website=[[China Manned Space Program]] |access-date=2022-06-05 |date=2022-06-05 |archive-date=2022-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605064359/http://www.cmse.gov.cn/xwzx/202206/t20220604_49962.html |language=zh }}</ref> On July 24, the third Long March 5B rocket lifted off from Wenchang, carrying the 23.2 t [[Wentian module|''Wentian'' laboratory module]] ({{Zh|s=问天实验舱|labels=no}}), the largest and heaviest spacecraft ever built and launched by China, into orbit. The module docked with the space station less than 20 hours later, adding the second module and the first laboratory module to it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=Second module docks at China's space station, large rocket stage tracked in orbit |url=https://spacenews.com/second-module-docks-at-chinas-space-station-large-rocket-stage-tracked-in-orbit/ |website=SpaceNews |date=24 July 2022 |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref> On September 30, the new Wentian module was rotated from the forward docking port to starboard parking port.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China moves Tiangong space station module to side docking port (video) |url=https://www.space.com/china-moves-module-tiangong-space-station-video |website=SPACE.com |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=7 October 2022}}</ref> On October 31, the [[Mengtian module|''Mengtian'' laboratory module]] ({{Zh|s=梦天实验舱|labels=no}}), the third and final module of China Space Station, was launched by another Long March 5B rocket into orbit and docked with the space station in less than 13 hours later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=China launches lab module Mengtian as space station approaches completion- China.org.cn |url=http://www.china.org.cn/china/2022-10/31/content_78494902.htm |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.china.org.cn}}</ref> On November 3, the 'T-shape' China Space Station was completed after the successful transposition of the Mengtian module.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=China Is Now a Major Space Power|magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/china-is-now-a-major-space-power-tiangong-space-station/|access-date=4 November 2022|last1=Skibba |first1=Ramin }}</ref> On November 29, [[Shenzhou 15|Shenzhou-15]] was launched and later docked with China Space Station. Astronauts [[Fei Junlong]], [[Deng Qingming]], and [[Zhang Lu (taikonaut)|Zhang Lu]] were welcomed by the Shenzhou-14 crew on board the station, completing the first crew gathering and handover in space by Chinese astronauts and starting the era of continuous Chinese astronaut presence in space.<ref>{{cite web |title=中国航天员乘组完成首次在轨交接 神舟十四号航天员乘组将于12月4日返回东风着陆场 |url=http://www.cmse.gov.cn/xwzx/202212/t20221203_51712.html |website=[[China Manned Space Program]] |access-date=2023-04-01 |date=2022-12-03| language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=Chinese astronauts meet in space for historic crew handover |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/11/29/chinese-astronauts-meet-in-space-for-historic-crew-handover |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Spaceflight Now |date=29 November 2022 }}</ref>

[[File:Chang'e-5 mockup at CSTM 01.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Chang'e-5 lander and ascender assembly full-scale mockup display at China Science and Technology Museum|[[Chang'e 5|Chang'e-5]] lander and ascender assembly full-scale mockup display at [[China Science and Technology Museum]]]]
The third phase of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program was also allowed to proceed in 2020. As preparation, China conducted [[Chang'e 5-T1]] mission in 2014. By completing its main task on November 1, 2014, China demonstrated the capability of returning a spacecraft from the lunar orbit back to Earth safely, paving the way for the lunar [[sample return mission]] to be conducted in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Leonard |title=China's 1st Round-Trip Moon Shot Sets Stage for Bigger Lunar Feats |url=https://www.space.com/27661-china-moon-mission-sample-return.html |website=SPACE.com |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=5 November 2014}}</ref> However, the failure of the second Long March 5 mission disrupted the original plan. Despite the readiness of the spacecraft, the mission had to be postponed due to the unavailability of its launch vehicle, until the successful return-to-flight of Long March 5 in late 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=Long March 5 failure to postpone China's lunar exploration program |url=https://spacenews.com/long-march-5-failure-to-postpone-chinas-lunar-exploration-program/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=10 June 2023 |date=25 September 2017}}</ref> On November 24, 2020, the sample return mission, entitled [[Chang'e 5|Chang'e-5]] ({{Zh|s=嫦娥五号|labels=no}}), kicked off as the Long March 5 rocket launched the 8.2 t spacecraft stack into space.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=A successful liftoff for China's most ambitious Moon mission to date |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/11/a-successful-liftoff-for-chinas-most-ambitious-moon-mission-to-date/ |website=ArsTechnica |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=24 November 2020}}</ref> The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on November 28, followed by a separation of the stack into two parts. The lander landed near [[Mons Rümker]] in [[Oceanus Procellarum]] on December 1 and started the sample collection process the next day.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/change-5-successfully-lands-on-moon-collect-youngest-lunar-samples/ |title=Chang'e-5 successfully lands on moon to collect youngest lunar samples |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref> Two days after the landing, on December 3, the ascent vehicle attached to the lander took off from lunar surface and entered lunar orbit, carrying the container with collected samples. This was the first time that China launched a spacecraft from an extraterrestrial body.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/change-5-spacecraft-prepare-for-historic-lunar-orbit-rendezvous-sample-relay/ |title=Chang'e-5 spacecraft prepare for historic lunar orbit rendezvous, sample relay |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=嫦娥五号上升器进入预定轨道 实现我国首次地外天体起飞 |url=http://www.clep.org.cn/n5982341/c6810748/content.html |website=[[Chinese Lunar Exploration Program|CLEP]] |access-date=2022-10-25 |date=2020-12-03 |archive-date=2021-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125192438/http://www.clep.org.cn/n5982341/c6810748/content.html |language=zh }}</ref> On December 6, the ascent vehicle successfully docked with the orbiter in lunar orbit and transferred the sample container to the return capsule, accomplishing the first robotic rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit in history.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China's Chang'e 5 aces lunar orbit docking needed to bring moon samples home |url=https://www.space.com/china-chang-e-5-moon-orbit-docking-success |website=SPACE.com |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=6 December 2020}}</ref> On December 13, the orbiter, along with the return module, entered the orbit back to Earth after main engine burns.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China's moon rocks are officially on their way to Earth as Chang'e 5 probe leaves lunar orbit |url=https://www.space.com/china-chang-e-5-moon-sample-spacecraft-returning-to-earth |website=SPACE.com |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=14 December 2020}}</ref> The return capsule eventually landed intact in Inner Mongolia on December 17, sealing the perfect completion of the mission.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/china-recovers-change-5-moon-samples-after-complex-23-day-mission/ |title=China recovers Chang'e-5 moon samples after complex 23-day mission |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=December 16, 2020 |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Chang'e-5 soil samples.png|thumb|alt=A small portion of the lunar samples retrieved by Chang'e-5|A small portion of the lunar samples retrieved by Chang'e-5]]
On December 19, 2020, CNSA hosted the Chang'e-5 lunar sample handover ceremony in Beijing. By weighing the sample container taken out from the return capsule, CNSA announced that Chang'e-5 retrieved 1,731 grams of samples from the Moon.<ref>{{cite web |title=China's Chang'e-5 retrieves 1,731 grams of moon samples |url=https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6810963/content.html |website=[[China National Space Administration|CNSA]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Being the most complex mission completed by China at the time, the Chang'e-5 mission achieved multiple remarkable milestones, including China's first lunar sampling, first liftoff from an extraterrestrial body, first automated rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit (by any nation) and the first spacecraft carrying samples to re-enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Leonard |title=China Scores Moon Sample Milestone |url=https://www.leonarddavid.com/china-scores-moon-sample-milestone/ |website=Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=16 December 2020}}</ref> Its success also marked the completion of the goal of "Orbiting, Landing, Returning" planned by CLEP since 2004.<ref name=ce5success>{{cite web |title=嫦娥五号探测器圆满完成我国首次地外天体采样返回任务 |url=http://www.clep.org.cn/n5982341/c6810874/content.html |website=[[Chinese Lunar Exploration Program|CLEP]] |access-date=2022-10-25 |date=2020-12-17 |archive-date=2022-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231213052/http://www.clep.org.cn/n5982341/c6810874/content.html |language=zh }}</ref>

[[File:Zhurong-with-lander-selfie.png|thumb|alt=Zhurong rover group selfie with the Tianwen-1 lander taken after the successful landing.|[[Zhurong rover|''Zhurong'' rover]] group selfie with the Tianwen-1 lander taken after the successful landing.]]
Prior to the launch of Chang'e-5, which targeted the Moon 380,000&nbsp;km away from the Earth, China's first Mars probe had departed, heading to the Mars 400 million kilometers away. Ever since the approval of the Mars mission in 2016, China had developed various technologies required, including [[Chinese Deep Space Network|deep space network]], [[atmospheric entry]], lander hovering and obstacle avoidance.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Andrew Jones |title=China quietly used NASA's Jupiter probe to test its deep space network |url=https://spacenews.com/china-quietly-used-nasas-jupiter-probe-to-test-its-deep-space-network/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=2021-06-14 |date=2019-11-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CNSA invited embassies and media to witness hovering and obstacle avoidance test for Mars Lander of China's first Mars exploration mission |url=https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6808105/content.html |website=CNSA |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=14 November 2019}}</ref> Long March 5, the only launch vehicle capable of delivering the spacecraft, was back to service after its critical return-to-flight in December 2019. As a result, all things were ready when the launch windows of July 2020 arrived. On April 24, 2020, CNSA officially announced the program of [[Planetary Exploration of China]] and named China's first independent Mars mission as ''[[Tianwen-1]]'' ({{Zh|s=天问一号|labels=no}}).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-mars-mission-named-tianwen-1-appears-on-track-for-july-launch/ |title=China's Mars mission named Tianwen-1, appears on track for July launch |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=July 23, 2020 |access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref> On July 23, 2020, Tianwen-1 was successfully launched atop a Long March 5 rocket into [[Trans-Mars injection]] orbit.<ref name="Tianwen-launch">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/tianwen-1-launches-for-mars-marking-dawn-of-chinese-interplanetary-exploration/ |title=Tianwen-1 launches for Mars, marking dawn of Chinese interplanetary exploration |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=July 23, 2020 |access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref> The spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover, aimed to achieve the goals of orbiting, landing, and roving on Mars in one single mission on the nation's first attempt. Due to its highly complex and risky nature, the mission was widely described as "ambitious" by international observers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/china-raises-the-stakes-with-second-mars-attempt/ |title=China raises the stakes with second Mars attempt |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=July 22, 2020 |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wall |first1=Mike |title=China launches ambitious Tianwen-1 Mars rover mission |url=https://www.space.com/china-tianwen-1-mars-mission-launch.html |website=SPACE.com |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=23 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=China set to launch an ambitious lander mission to Mars |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/china-set-to-launch-an-ambitious-lander-mission-to-mars/ |website=ArsTechnica |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=22 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gebhardt |first1=Chris |title=China seeks "Heavenly Questions" with ambitious Tianwen-1 mission to Mars |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/07/china-ambitious-tianwen1-mars/ |website=NASASpaceflight.com |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=22 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=China launches ambitious attempt to land rover on Mars |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/china-launches-ambitious-attempt-land-rover-mars-rcna59 |website=NBC News |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=23 July 2020}}</ref>

After a seven-month journey, on February 10, 2021, Tianwen-1 entered Mars orbit and became China's first operational Mars probe.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=China's first Mars mission enters orbit around Red Planet |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/02/10/chinas-first-mars-mission-enters-orbit-around-red-planet/ |website=spaceflightnow.com |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=10 February 2021}}</ref> The payloads on the orbiter were subsequently activated and started surveying Mars in preparation for the landing. In the following few months, CNSA released a series of images captured by the orbiter.<ref>{{cite web |title=China shows first high-def pictures of Mars taken by Tianwen 1 |url=https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6811350/content.html |website=[[China National Space Administration|CNSA]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=4 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=国家航天局发布天问一号拍摄火星侧身影像 |url=https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758838/c6811448/content.html |website=[[China National Space Administration|CNSA]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=26 March 2021 |language=zh}}</ref> On April 24, CNSA announced that the first Chinese Mars rover carried by Tianwen-1 probe had been named [[Zhurong (rover)|''Zhurong'']], the god of fire in ancient Chinese mythology.<ref>{{cite web |title=Update: China Focus: China's first Mars rover named Zhurong |url=https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6811942/content.html |website=[[China National Space Administration|CNSA]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=25 April 2020}}</ref>

On May 15, 2020, around 1 am ([[Beijing time]]), Tianwen-1 initiated its landing process by igniting its main engines and lowering its orbit, followed by the separation of landing module at 4 am. The orbiter then returned to the parking orbit while the lander moved toward Mars atmosphere. Three hours later, the landing experienced the most dangerous atmospheric entry process that lasted for nine minutes. At 7:18 am, the lander successfully landed on the preselected southern [[Utopia Planitia]].<ref name="Zhurong-landing">{{cite web |title=Probe makes historic landing on Mars |url=https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6812005/content.html |website=[[China National Space Administration|CNSA]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=17 May 2021}}</ref> On May 25, the ''Zhurong'' rover drove onto the Martian surface from the lander.<ref>{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Leonard |title=China's Mars Rover: On a Roll |url=https://www.leonarddavid.com/chinas-mars-rover-on-a-roll/ |website=Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=22 May 2021}}</ref> On June 11, CNSA released the first batch of high-resolution images of landing sites captured by ''Zhurong'' rovers, marking the success of the Mars landing mission.<ref>{{cite web |title=天问一号探测器着陆火星首批科学影像图揭幕 |url=https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758838/c6812123/content.html |website=[[China National Space Administration|CNSA]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |language=zh |date=11 June 2021}}</ref> Being China's first independent Mars mission, Tianwen-1 completed the daunting process involving the orbiting, landing, and roving in highly sophisticated manner on one single attempt, making China the second nation to land and drive a Mars rover on the Martian surface after the United States. It drew the attention of the world as another example of China's rapidly expanding presence in outer space.<ref name="Zhurong-landing"/> Because of its huge difficulty and inspiring success, the Tianwen-1 development team received IAF World Space Award of 2022. It was the second time that a Chinese team awarded with this honor after the Chang'e-4 mission in 2019.<ref name="worldspaceaward"/>

On 13 March, China attempted to launch two spacecrafts, DRO-A and DRO-B, into [[distant retrograde orbit]] around the Moon. As an independent project, the mission was managed by [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]] instead of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. However, the mission failed to reach the strived for orbit due to an upper stage malfunction, remaining stranded in low Earth orbit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7529 |title=Status of "DRO-A/B" |access-date= 14 March 2024 |work=Next Spaceflight }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-14 |title=Surprise Chinese lunar mission hit by launch anomaly |url=https://spacenews.com/surprise-chinese-lunar-mission-hit-by-launch-anomaly/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> Rescue attempts had been made as its orbit had been observed being significantly raised to a [[highly elliptical orbit]] since its launch, yet the following status remains unknown to the public.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China appears to be trying to save stricken spacecraft from lunar limbo Andrew Jones March 28, 2024 |url=https://spacenews.com/china-appears-to-be-trying-to-save-stricken-spacecraft-from-lunar-limbo/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=28 March 2024}}</ref> They appear to have succeeded in reaching their desired orbit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-08-20 |title=Chinese spacecraft appear to reach lunar orbit despite launch setback |url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-spacecraft-appear-to-reach-lunar-orbit-despite-launch-setback/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-28 |title=China appears to be trying to save stricken spacecraft from lunar limbo |url=https://spacenews.com/china-appears-to-be-trying-to-save-stricken-spacecraft-from-lunar-limbo/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 20 March 2024 China launched its relay satellite, [[Queqiao-2]], in the orbit of the Moon, along with two mini satellites [[Tiandu|Tiandu 1 and 2]]. Queqiao-2 will relay communications for the Chang'e 6 (far side of the Moon), Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 (Lunar south pole region) spacecrafts. Tiandu 1 and 2 will test technologies for a future lunar navigation and positioning constellation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-14 |title=China launches Queqiao-2 relay satellite to support moon missions |url=https://spacenews.com/china-launches-queqiao-2-relay-satellite-to-support-moon-missions/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> All the three probes entered lunar orbit successfully on 24 March 2024 (Tiandu-1 and 2 were attached to each other and separated in lunar orbit on 3 April 2024).<ref>{{Cite web |title=探月工程里程碑：天都二号卫星成功应用冷气微推进系统 |url=http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA4ODM1ODU0OA==&mid=2653749333&idx=2&sn=6a400906c49236d7a7a1f06fb14e4681&chksm=8bf2cbaebc8542b839ea8a8e55b2003b8049540daccf37c1b96cfe9a6ed8aae7d25cba89f35f#rd |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Weixin Official Accounts Platform}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-03-25 |title=China's Queqiao-2 relay satellite enters lunar orbit |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-queqiao-2-relay-satellite-enters-lunar-orbit/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref>

China sent [[Chang'e 6]] on 3 May 2024, which conducted the first lunar sample return from [[Apollo (crater)|Apollo Basin]] on the [[far side of the Moon]].<ref name="AJ_FI-20230425">{{cite tweet |author=Andrew Jones |user= AJ_FI |number=1650832520978526208 |title=China's Chang'e-6 sample return mission (a first ever lunar far side sample-return) is scheduled to launch in May 2024, and expected to take 53 days from launch to return module touchdown. Targeting southern area of Apollo basin (~43º S, 154º W) |date=25 April 2023}}</ref> This is China's second lunar sample return mission, the first was achieved by [[Chang'e 5]] from the lunar near side four years earlier.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-probe-arrives-at-spaceport-for-first-ever-lunar-far-side-sample-mission/ |title=China's Chang'e-6 probe arrives at spaceport for first-ever lunar far side sample mission |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=10 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref> It also carried the Chinese ''Jinchan'' rover to conduct [[Absorption spectroscopy|infrared spectroscopy]] of lunar surface and imaged Chang'e 6 lander on lunar surface.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China's Chang'e-6 is carrying a surprise rover to the moon |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-is-carrying-a-surprise-rover-to-the-moon/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=8 May 2024 |date=6 May 2024 |archive-date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508193233/https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-is-carrying-a-surprise-rover-to-the-moon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The lander-ascender-rover combination was separated with the orbiter and returner before landing on 1 June 2024 at 22:23 UTC. It landed on the Moon's surface on 1 June 2024.<ref name="AJ_FI-20240601">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/change-6-lands-on-far-side-of-the-moon-to-collect-unique-lunar-samples/ |title=Chang'e-6 lands on far side of the moon to collect unique lunar samples |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=1 June 2024 |access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="segeryu240602">{{cite tweet | author= Seger Yu | user= SegerYu | number= 1797042217804337307 | title= 落月时刻 2024-06-02 06:23:15.861 | language= zh }}</ref> The ascender was launched back to lunar orbit on 3 June 2024 at 23:38 UTC, carrying samples collected by the lander, and later completed another robotic rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit. The sample container was then transferred to the returner, which landed in [[Inner Mongolia]] on 25 June 2024, completing China's far side extraterrestrial sample return mission. After dropping off the return samples for Earth, the Chang'e 6 (CE-6) orbiter was successfully captured by the [[Sun-Earth L2]] Lagrange point on 9 September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-09-10 |title=Chang'e-6 orbiter turns up at Sun-Earth Lagrange point after moon sampling mission |url=https://spacenews.com/change-6-orbiter-turns-up-at-sun-earth-lagrange-point-after-moon-sampling-mission/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref>
====Near future development====

[[File:Xuntian Space Telescope mockup at NMC 01.jpg|thumb|alt=Xuntian Space Telescope mockup|[[Xuntian|Xuntian Space Telescope]] mockup]]
According to a 2022 government white paper, China will conduct more human spaceflight, lunar and planetary exploration missions, including:<ref name="whitpaper2021">{{cite web |date=28 January 2022 |title=Full Text: China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective |url=https://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/202201/28/content_WS61f35b3dc6d09c94e48a467a.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128153120/https://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/202201/28/content_WS61f35b3dc6d09c94e48a467a.html |archive-date=28 January 2022 |access-date=27 May 2023 |website=The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China}}</ref>
* [[Xuntian|Xuntian Space Telescope]] launch.
* [[Chang'e 7|Chang'e-7]] mission to perform a precise landing in the Moon's polar region that includes a "hopping detector" to explore permanently-shadowed areas.
* [[Chang'e 8|Chang'e-8]] lunar polar mission to test [[in-situ resource utilization]] and establish the predicate for the [[International Lunar Research Station]].
* [[Tianwen-2]] mission to sample near-Earth asteroids and probe main-belt comets.
* [[Tianwen-3]] mission using two launches to return samples from Mars.
* [[Tianwen-4]] mission to explore the [[Jupiter (planet)|Jupiter]] system and [[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]]; a probe to fly-by [[Uranus (planet)|Uranus]] will be attached to the Jupiter probe.

In addition to these, China has also initiated the crewed lunar landing phase of its lunar exploration program, which aims to land Chinese astronauts on the Moon by 2030. A new crewed carrier rocket ([[Long March 10]]), [[next-generation crewed spacecraft|new generation crew spacecraft]], [[Chinese crewed lunar lander|crewed lunar lander]], lunar [[extravehicular activity|EVA]] spacesuit, lunar rover and other equipment are under development.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China sets sights on crewed lunar landing before 2030 |url=https://spacenews.com/china-sets-sights-on-crewed-lunar-landing-before-2030/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=29 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Leonard |title=China Starts "Landing Phase" of Placing Astronauts on Moon Before 2030 – New Launch Site, Booster, Lunar Lander in the Works |url=https://www.leonarddavid.com/china-starts-landing-phase-of-placing-astronauts-on-moon-before-2030-new-launch-site-booster-lunar-lander-in-the-works/ |website=Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=29 May 2023}}</ref>

CNSA's ''[[Tianwen-2]]'' was launched in May 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrew Jones published |date=2022-05-18 |title=China to launch Tianwen 2 asteroid-sampling mission in 2025 |url=https://www.space.com/china-tianwen2-asteroid-sampling-mission-2025-launch |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Space.com}}</ref> to explore the [[co-orbital]] near-Earth asteroid [[469219 Kamoʻoalewa]] and the [[active asteroid]] [[311P/PanSTARRS]] and collecting samples of the regolith of Kamo'oalewa.<ref name="nature20190430">{{cite journal |last=Gibney |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01390-5 |title=China plans mission to Earth's pet asteroid |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |date=30 April 2019 |access-date=4 June 2019 |doi=10.1038/d41586-019-01390-5|pmid=32346150 |s2cid=155198626 }}</ref>