News
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11-07-2026 - China Lands Long March 10 rocket
07-05-2026- ESA launches ExoMars model with a canon
A small ExoMars capsule, just 8 cm diameter, was launched using a cannon to demonstrate the stability at supersonic speeds. During the launch the capsule experienced a 17000 g acceleration and after the test the capsule impacted a wall, destroying it. The tests proved the free-flying stability of the capsue
10-04-2026 - Artemis II lands safely after flying around the moon
After reaching the moon, the Artemis II crew has safely landed back on Earth, marking the first time the Orion recovery system has been used with humans on board.
11-02-2026 - China completes in-flight abort test of Mengzhou
China has completed the in-flight abort test of the new crewed capsule Mengzhou. This capsule ranges between Orion and Dragon in terms of mass and is intended to replace the current Shenzhou capsule for LEO and, in the future, lunar missions. This also marks the first launch of a (partial) Long March 10 rocket, which performed a successful water landing.
The CZ-10A test stage completed a successful 470-second flight, reaching a peak altitude of 105 km—the precise point where orbital missions will execute stage separation. Following the shutdown, the stage entered a glide phase in near-vacuum conditions to test attitude control and propellant settling.
The recovery sequence began 350 seconds into the flight with a powered deceleration burn, lasting one minute before transitioning to aerodynamic braking. For the final descent, the rocket narrowed its thrust to the centre engine, which maintained a controlled trajectory for the final 40 seconds until just before splashdown.
05-02-2026 - The Exploration company completed splashdown tests of Nyx
The Exploration company has successfully completed a series of water impact tests in support of their new Nyx capsule. The Nyx capsule is intended to bring cargo and, in the future, humans to space.
21-01-2026 - ESA completes drop tests for Mars landing legs
ESA Engineers have dropped landing legs designed for Mars on a simulated surface, validating their performance
