PRC Space Program: Satellites to Lunar Probes (1970–present)

1. China launches its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1

   Apr 24, 1970Labels: Dong Fang, China

   • DFH 1
   • Two Bombs

2. Shijian 1 begins China’s scientific satellite flights

   Mar 3, 1971Labels: Shijian 1, China

   • NextSpaceflight
   • GlobalSecurity

3. China starts recoverable satellite program (FSW)

   Nov 26, 1974Labels: FSW, recoverable satellite, China

   • FSW

4. Dong Fang Hong 2 enters geosynchronous orbit

   Apr 8, 1984Labels: Dong Fang, communications satellite

   • DFH 2

5. Fengyun 1A launches China’s polar weather satellites

   Sep 6, 1988Labels: Fengyun 1A, meteorological satellite

   • NextSpaceflight

6. BeiDou-1A begins China’s satellite navigation system

   Oct 31, 2000Labels: BeiDou-1A, BeiDou

   • BeiDou

7. Shenzhou 5 puts China’s first astronaut in orbit

   Oct 15, 2003Labels: Shenzhou 5, Yang Liwei

   • Shenzhou 5
   • Britannica

8. Chang’e 1 starts China’s lunar exploration program

   Oct 24, 2007Labels: Chang'e 1, lunar orbiter

   • Chang e 1

9. Shenzhou 7 conducts China’s first spacewalk

   Sep 27, 2008Labels: Shenzhou 7, Zhai Zhigang

   • Shenzhou 7
   • Nature

10. Chang’e 3 achieves a soft landing and deploys Yutu

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

    • Chang e 3
    • Moon landing

11. Queqiao relay satellite enables far-side lunar missions

    May 20, 2018Labels: Queqiao, relay satellite

    • Queqiao

12. Chang’e 4 makes first landing on Moon’s far side

    Jan 3, 2019Labels: Chang'e 4, Yutu-2

    • NASA
    • Planetary

13. BeiDou global navigation constellation is completed

    Jun 23, 2020Labels: BeiDou-3, global constellation

    • NASASpaceflight

14. Chang’e 5 returns lunar samples to Earth

    Dec 16, 2020Labels: Chang'e 5, sample-return

    • Chang e 5
    • Axios

15. Tiangong space station assembly reaches “T” configuration

    Nov 3, 2022Labels: Tiangong, Mengtian module

    • Space com
    • Mengtian