China's Space Program: From Shenzhou to Chang'e Lunar Missions (1992–2024)

1. Project 921 approves China’s human spaceflight plan

   Sep 21, 1992Labels: Project 921, Shenzhou program

   • China Space Report
   • China org cn
   • GlobalSecurity

2. Shenzhou 1 conducts first Shenzhou test flight

   Nov 19, 1999Labels: Shenzhou 1, Long March

   • Shenzhou 1
   • China org cn

3. Shenzhou 5 launches China’s first astronaut

   Oct 15, 2003Labels: Shenzhou 5, Yang Liwei

   • Shenzhou 5
   • China org cn

4. Shenzhou 6 completes China’s second crewed flight

   Oct 12, 2005Labels: Shenzhou 6

   • Shenzhou 6

5. Chang’e 1 launches China’s first lunar orbiter

   Oct 24, 2007Labels: Chang'e 1

   • ESA ScienceDaily
   • Chang e 1

6. Shenzhou 7 performs China’s first spacewalk

   Sep 25, 2008Labels: Shenzhou 7

   • Shenzhou 7

7. Chang’e 2 launches for higher-resolution lunar mapping

   Oct 1, 2010Labels: Chang'e 2

   • Chang e 2

8. Tiangong-1 launches as China’s first space lab

   Sep 29, 2011Labels: Tiangong-1

   • Tiangong 1

9. Shenzhou 8 completes China’s first orbital docking

   Nov 2, 2011Labels: Shenzhou 8, Tiangong-1

   • Shenzhou 8
   • NASASpaceFlight

10. Shenzhou 9 achieves first crewed docking

    Jun 18, 2012Labels: Shenzhou 9, Tiangong-1

    • Shenzhou 9
    • SpacePolicyOnline

11. Chang’e 3 makes China’s first lunar soft landing

    Dec 14, 2013Labels: Chang'e 3, Yutu rover

    • Chang e 3
    • Space com

12. Chang’e 5-T1 tests lunar-return reentry technology

    Oct 23, 2014Labels: Chang'e 5-T1

    • Chang e 5

13. Tiangong-2 launches as upgraded space laboratory

    Sep 15, 2016Labels: Tiangong-2

    • Tiangong 2

14. Shenzhou 11 begins 30-day Tiangong-2 crewed mission

    Oct 16, 2016Labels: Shenzhou 11, Tiangong-2

    • Shenzhou 11
    • Space com

15. Queqiao relay satellite launches for far-side lunar missions

    May 20, 2018Labels: Queqiao relay

    • Queqiao 1

16. Chang’e 4 achieves first far-side lunar landing

    Jan 3, 2019Labels: Chang'e 4

    • Chang e 4

17. Chang’e 5 returns lunar samples to Earth

    Dec 16, 2020Labels: Chang'e 5

    • NatGeo
    • Axios

18. Tianhe core module launches Tiangong station construction

    Apr 29, 2021Labels: Tianhe module, Tiangong station

    • Tianhe
    • Axios

19. Shenzhou 12 delivers first crew to Tianhe

    Jun 17, 2021Labels: Shenzhou 12, Tianhe module

    • Shenzhou 12
    • Guardian

20. Chang’e 6 returns first samples from Moon’s far side

    Jun 25, 2024Labels: Chang'e 6

    • Chang e 6
    • CNBC