China’s commercial space sector has entered a new frontier. In January, a private Chinese aerospace company unveiled the test capsule of what is set to become the country’s first commercially developed crewed spacecraft, with plans for crewed flights by 2028 and bookings already taken from private space tourists. The project reflects a decisive shift in…
It’s getting busy in Earth orbit Maciej Frolow/Getty Images China has applied to launch nearly 200,000 satellites into Earth orbit, but the move may be an attempt at merely reserving orbital space rather than a genuine effort to build the largest mega-constellation in existence. On December 29, the newly formed Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilisation…
America’s top defence official declared that the US must achieve unquestioned AI “dominance” to prevent adversaries from gaining a technological edge, as he unveiled a strategy that includes integrating Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s announcement did not mention China by name, but it came a month after a report to the…
Chinese firms have signalled plans to launch more than 200,000 internet satellites, filing submissions with a UN agency just as Beijing accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX of crowding shared orbital resources. A dozen or so submissions from various Chinese satellite players were filed with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the end of last month. The…
Chinese authorities recently penalised a foreign vessel for illegally using Starlink within Chinese waters. According to a South China Morning Post report, the satellite-based internet service offered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX – is banned in China and is viewed as a national security threat. In fact, the company has not been given licence to operate…
China seems to be working hard to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The country is reportedly seeking ways to advance its reusable rocket capabilities through new regulations that would help its commercial space companies access public markets. According to a Reuters report, the Shanghai Stock Exchange recently announced that Chinese companies developing reusable rockets will…
The Long March 12A, China’s first state-owned reusable rocket, made its debut launch on Tuesday morning but the recovery of the first stage was a failure. It was China’s second failed bid this month to return an orbital-class booster, a feat that has so far only been achieved by the US. The reusable rocket, designed…
Backed by a booming tech sector and surging asset prices, the wealth of mainland China’s billionaires jumped 22.2 per cent year on year to US$1.77 trillion in the 12 months to early April, according to the report published on Thursday. With 70 new entrants, mainland China’s billionaire count rose to 470 from 427 – second…
The United States will redouble efforts to ensure its return to the moon ahead of China and also establish an enduring presence on Earth’s natural satellite to entrench the country’s presence, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said on Wednesday during a Senate confirmation hearing. Such a sense of…
Jeff Bezos Just Dropped $6.2 Billion on a Secret AI Startup and Elon Musk Is Fuming Jeff Bezos is making a serious comeback. He is reportedly stepping into an executive role as co-CEO of a stealth-mode AI startup called Project Prometheus, which has already raised a staggering $6.2 billion. The company, co-led by Bezos and…