China Achieves Record 92 Space Launches in 2025, Commercial Sector Accounts for Over 50%
China Space

China Achieves Record 92 Space Launches in 2025, Commercial Sector Accounts for Over 50%

Tianjiangshuo·

China Achieves Record 92 Space Launches in 2025, Commercial Sector Accounts for Over 50%

Summary: According to the 2025 Statistical Communiqué of the People's Republic of China on National Economic and Social Development, published by China's National Bureau of Statistics in February 2026, China completed 92 orbital launches in 2025 — a historic high and a 35% increase over 2024. Of these, commercial launches accounted for 50. The Tianwen-2 asteroid sample-return mission was successfully launched, while the Zhuque-3 and Long March 12A reusable rocket prototypes successfully placed their upper stages into orbit on their maiden flights.

Key Figures

MetricValueNotes
Total orbital launches (2025)92Historic high; +35% vs 2024
Of which commercial launches50~54% of total
2026 projected launches~140Per CAS Space chairman Yang Yiqiang

Tianwen-2: Opening a New Chapter in Asteroid Exploration

In 2025, the Tianwen-2 spacecraft was successfully launched, kicking off China's first asteroid sample-return mission. The probe will approach its target asteroid for close-range observation, building technical foundation for future deep-space exploration.

Reusable Rocket Technology Accelerates

Several reusable launch vehicle programs achieved major milestones in 2025:

  • Zhuque-3 (Hyperbola-3): Recovery and reuse trials are being advanced, with a first reuse flight attempt targeted for late-year 2025
  • Long March 12A: Its maiden flight successfully placed the second stage into orbit, signaling China's approach to a Falcon 9-class reusable rocket

2026 Outlook

According to Yang Yiqiang, founder and chairman of CAS Space (中科宇航), China is projected to conduct approximately 140 orbital launches in 2026 — a 52% increase over 2025. The country's space program is entering a new era of high-frequency launches.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2026: Tianwen-2 will conduct close-range observations of its target asteroid; the crewed spaceflight program will launch the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft and additional missions; multiple reusable rockets will carry out flight verifications; and commercial spaceflight will pursue high-quality development with robust safety assurance.

On the international cooperation front, the Sino-European SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) satellite — co-developed by China's European Space Agency — is scheduled for launch to study solar wind-magnetosphere interactions; and the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite cooperation will continue, extending a nearly 40-year partnership.

Sources (original pages)

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