China Advances Space Technology with New Missions

China's space ambitions are highlighted by the unveiling of the Haolong, a reusable unmanned space plane designed for cargo transport to the Tiangong space station, which reflects a long-standing effort by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation that dates back to the 1980s. Meanwhile, the Indian Space Agency is preparing to launch a humanoid robot into space in a significant test mission, paving the way for manned missions planned for 2026. Additionally, the American company AstroForge has received a groundbreaking commercial license from the FCC to operate in deep space, as it aims to extract precious metals from asteroids through its upcoming Odin mission. Chinese astronauts recently returned from the Shenzhou-18 mission, bringing back over 34 kg of scientific samples, which will be analyzed to enhance understanding of life in space and develop new materials. The recent launch and recovery of China's Shijian-19 satellite further demonstrates China's progress in reusable satellite technology. These developments collectively illustrate the competitive landscape of global space exploration.