China is set to launch a series of ambitious space missions in 2025, including a sample return mission and the debut of several new spacecraft, rockets, and satellites. These initiatives aim to enhance the country's capabilities in deep space exploration and lay the groundwork for improved commercial space services.
One of the key projects is the launch of the "Tianwen-2" probe, which will conduct a sample return mission from the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 and perform orbital studies of comet 311P in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. According to Zhang Zhongqiao, chief designer of China's planetary exploration program and the "Tianwen-2" mission, if successful, these will be the first samples collected by China in interplanetary space.
As part of the operation of the "Tiangong" space station, the launches of crewed spacecraft "Shenzhou-20" and "Shenzhou-21" are planned, along with the cargo spacecraft "Tianzhou-9." Additionally, a cargo spacecraft named "Qingzhou," developed by the Innovative Academy of Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is expected to launch in September 2025. This spacecraft will be capable of delivering up to 2 tons of cargo in a 27 cubic meter compartment.
China also plans to debut new launch vehicles. The Long March-8A, a modified version of the Long March-8, will make its inaugural flight in 2025. It is specifically designed for launching large-scale satellite constellations and features improved performance and lower costs.
Simultaneously, new-generation rockets are being developed for future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. The Long March-10 launch vehicle is intended for deploying next-generation crewed spacecraft and lunar landers, capable of carrying up to 27 tons of payload to lunar orbit. The super-heavy Long March-9 rocket is under development to support major national scientific and technological projects, including lunar research stations and crewed missions to Mars.
In satellite technology, China plans to launch the SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) satellite, a collaborative project with the European Space Agency. This spacecraft will study the interaction of solar wind with Earth's magnetosphere.
The year 2025 will also be crucial for the development of the BeiDou navigation system, with plans to complete the development of key technologies ensuring high precision, reliability, and intelligence.
Chinese commercial space companies are also ramping up efforts to develop reusable spaceflight technologies. The Zhuque-3 rocket by LandSpace is expected to make its first flight in 2025, marking a significant step in the advancement of the country's commercial space sector.