Latest news with #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trump is downsizing NASA and handing over the space race to China
A staggering 2,145 senior NASA employees - about 11% of the agency's total workforce - are set to leave as part of a sweeping downsizing effort, signaling a period of deep uncertainty for the US space program. This unprecedented exodus comes as China 's space sector surges, now employing over 170,000 people- a workforce nearly ten times larger than NASA's - highlighting the stark divergence between the two nations' approaches to space exploration NASA: Shrinking workforce, budget woes, and mission risks NASA's workforce, currently around 18,000 employees, is bracing for a significant loss of expertise. The departing staff are primarily in GS-13 to GS-15 roles, representing senior leadership and technical positions essential to the agency's most complex missions. Notably, 1,818 of those leaving work directly in science and human spaceflight, with hundreds more in mission support roles such as IT, facilities, and finance. Critical centers like the Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers are among the hardest hit, with hundreds of staff departing from each. The cuts are being driven by the Trump administration's proposed $6 billion reduction to NASA's 2025 budget, which threatens to cancel dozens of science programs and jeopardize major projects, including the Gateway lunar orbit station. The agency is offering early retirement, buyouts, and deferred resignations to minimize involuntary layoffs, but the scale of the departures has already raised alarms about a 'brain drain' that could disrupt ongoing and future missions. Compounding the crisis is the absence of a confirmed NASA administrator, following the abrupt withdrawal of nominee Jared Isaacman. This leadership gap further complicates strategic planning at a time when the agency is under intense pressure to do more with less. Program impact: Missions at risk The staff exodus and budget squeeze threaten to undermine NASA's most ambitious projects: Live Events Artemis II Program (returning Americans to the Moon) scheduled for 2026 and Mars Sample Return missions are at risk due to the loss of experienced engineers and managers. Dozens of science programs face cancellation, and the agency's ability to maintain its role in international collaborations is in jeopardy. China: Expanding workforce, growing budget, and unbroken momentum While NASA contracts, China's space program is rapidly expanding. China's space program, coordinated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and executed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is supported by a workforce exceeding 170,000 employees across its various agencies and state-owned enterprises. This vast pool of engineers, scientists, and support staff enables China to rapidly scale up its ambitions and sustain a high tempo of missions. China's recent track record is marked by a string of high-profile successes: Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission launched in 2025, aiming to bring back pristine samples from a near-Earth asteroid. Chang'e-6 lunar mission set to return samples from the Moon's far side. Tiangong space station fully operational, supporting long-duration human missions and international science collaborations. Multiple new partnerships, including joint missions with Europe and invitations to over 30 countries to join its lunar research initiatives. China's centralized approach enables rapid decision-making, efficient resource allocation, and consistent progress on ambitious goals—contrasting sharply with NASA's current budget and staffing turmoil. Will China rocket over NASA sooner than anticipated? The simultaneous downscaling of NASA's workforce and budget, combined with leadership instability, is eroding America's traditional dominance in space. The loss of over 2,000 senior staff threatens to disrupt critical missions and diminish the agency's capacity for innovation at a time when global competition is intensifying. In contrast, China is capitalizing on this moment, expanding its workforce, increasing its budget, and executing complex missions with growing international participation. If current trends continue, China is poised to overtake the U.S. in several key areas of space exploration, fundamentally reshaping the global balance of power in the final frontier. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
NDTV
01-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
China's Tianwen 2 Sends Stunning Images Of Earth And Moon From Deep Space: See Pics
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) released images of Earth and the moon on Tuesday, taken by the Tianwen 2 spacecraft from deep space, according to Xinhua. The probe was launched on May 29 using a Long March-3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, and the images were taken a day later, on May 30. See images here: 33 days following launch, #Tianwen2 is passing 12 million km distance from Earth. CNSA released photos of the Earth and Moon taken by ANAC (窄视场导航敏感器 / Asteroid Narrow Angle Camera) when the spacecraft was 590K km from each body. — WLR2678🌌 (@WLR_2678) July 1, 2025 Currently, the probe is reportedly around 12 million kilometres away from Earth. It has spent more than 33 days in space so far. The mission aims to collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 (or 469219 Kamo'oalewa) and explore the main-belt comet 311P, which would help provide insights into the early solar system's formation and evolution. As per the report, the space agency published the stunning pictures, taken by the spacecraft's narrow-field-of-view navigation sensor, when it was about 590,000 kilometres away from the Blue Planet. What is the future of the Tianwen 2 mission? The mission is expected to return samples to Earth by November 2027, with the probe collecting between 0.2 and 1 kilogram of soil from the asteroid. The Tianwen-2 mission is planned to last around 10 years. During the given period, the probe would visit the asteroid and comet, and return samples to Earth. The mission will help scientists understand the composition, formation, and evolutionary history of the solar system's early materials. If successful, the probe would also provide insights into the origins of water on Earth. China has several important missions planned for the coming years. Beijing plans to send Chinese astronauts to the Moon before 2030 and establish a permanent base there, as part of its ambitious "space dream" under Xi Jinping's leadership.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
CNSA releases images of Earth and Moon by Tianwen-2 from 590,000 km in deep space
China's Tianwen-2 probe has officially begun its deep space mission by capturing a stunning image of Earth and the Moon from 590,000 kilometers away. Released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on July 1, the image symbolises the start of a decade-long journey to explore a near-Earth asteroid and a distant comet. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Launched on May 29, Tianwen-2 will collect samples from asteroid Kamo'oalewa by 2027 and later investigate comet 311P/PANSTARRS. This dual-target mission marks a significant step forward for China's space program, aiming to unlock key secrets about the origin of the Moon, water, and life. Tianwen-2 probe: Earth-Moon images from deep space released by CNSA The stunning photo was taken on May 30, 2025, when Tianwen-2 was nearly 590,000 kilometers away from Earth. The picture beautifully frames Earth and its natural satellite, the Moon, together in the vast darkness of space. This image was captured using the spacecraft's narrow-field-of-view navigation sensor, an instrument designed to help the spacecraft maintain its orientation and enable precise autonomous navigation. This camera plays a critical role in guiding Tianwen-2 through deep space, allowing it to operate independently from ground control while maintaining stability during its long voyage. Source: CNSA Source: CNSA Tianwen-2 marks milestone with over 12 million km travelled since May 29 launch As of July 1, 2025 , CNSA reports that Tianwen-2 is operating smoothly. As reported, the Tianwen-2 probe has been in orbit for 33 days with a distance of 12 million kilometres since its May 29 launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 3B rocket. Its successful performance in this early stage builds confidence in its ability to complete its complex multi-target mission. This probe is part of China's broader space strategy to expand its scientific reach beyond the Moon and Mars, pushing boundaries into asteroid and comet exploration—domains previously dominated by NASA, ESA, and JAXA. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Tianwen-2 heads toward Kamo'oalewa; a mysterious near-Earth asteroid Tianwen-2 is heading toward Kamo'oalewa, a small near-Earth asteroid that orbits the Sun in a path similar to Earth's. What makes this asteroid particularly intriguing is the hypothesis that it might be a fragment of the Moon, dislodged by a massive impact event in the distant past. Upon arrival in 2026, the spacecraft will conduct detailed investigations, including: Surface imaging and mapping Material composition analysis Landing and sample collection The samples will then be returned to Earth by 2027, providing researchers with rare, untouched material from a near-Earth object—potentially from the Moon's ancient past. Tianwen-2 to explore mysterious comet after asteroid sample return Tianwen-2's mission doesn't end after the asteroid sample returns. It will be re-tasked to study the comet 311P/PANSTARRS, known for its active tail and mysterious dust ejection events. This phase of the mission could begin shortly after the asteroid visit and will involve: Close flybys of the comet's nucleus Observations of gas and dust activity Analysis of chemical composition Scientists hope this exploration could provide vital clues about the origin of Earth's water and organic molecules, helping to answer one of science's oldest questions—how life-supporting ingredients arrived on our planet. Tianwen-2 sets a new standard with 10-year asteroid-to-comet space voyage According to The Astronomy Magazine , the Tianwen-2 mission is planned to last more than 10 years, making it one of the longest and most scientifically rich deep-space missions in China's history. Its dual-phase nature—first targeting an asteroid, then a comet—requires exceptional engineering and mission planning. This strategy mirrors the complexity and ambition of missions like NASA's OSIRIS-REx and ESA's Rosetta, but with a uniquely Chinese twist: combining asteroid sample return and comet observation into a single, seamless voyage. Also Read |
The Star
01-07-2025
- Science
- The Star
China's asteroid sampling spacecraft sends back pictures of Earth and moon
This image released by the China National Space Administration shows a view of the Earth captured by the Tianwen 2 probe on May 30, 2025 and post-processed by scientific researchers. - Supplied/China Daily BEIJING: China's Tianwen 2 asteroid sampling spacecraft had been on its interplanetary itinerary for over 33 days as of Tuesday (July 1) morning, with the robotic probe being more than 12 million kilometres away from Earth, according to the China National Space Administration. The administration said in a brief news release that the Tianwen 2 spacecraft is travelling in a transfer trajectory toward its destination, an asteroid called 2016 HO3, and had been in a good condition by that morning. The administration also published two pictures taken by the spacecraft's narrow-field-of-view navigation sensor, showing Earth and the moon when it was about 590,000km away from our mother planet and the moon, respectively. The Tianwen 2, representing China's first attempt to bring pristine asteroid materials back to Earth, was launched on May 29 by a Long March 3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province. The mission's primary objective is to reach a small, near-Earth asteroid named 2016 HO3, which is between 40 to 100m wide, in the summer of 2026, where it will first study the celestial body up close using a suite of 11 instruments including cameras, spectrometers and radars, before deploying special devices to collect surface substances. This image released by the China National Space Administration shows a view of the moon captured by the Tianwen 2 probe on May 30, 2025 and post-processed by scientific researchers. -Supplied/China Daily The asteroid, also known as 469219 Kamo'oalewa, orbits the sun, so it remains a constant companion of Earth. It is too distant to be considered a true satellite of Earth, but it is the best and most stable example to date of a quasi-satellite. After the collection work is done, the Tianwen 2 probe is programmed to fly back to Earth's orbit to send a capsule containing the precious samples back to the ground. The samples will be distributed to scientists, who will examine their physical properties, chemical and mineralogical content and isotopic composition, contributing to studies on the formation and evolution of asteroids and the early solar system. Delivering samples to Earth will not be the end of the mission. The spacecraft will then enter the second phase of its mission: flying toward a main-belt comet called 311P to make a remote-sensing survey and transmit the data back to Earth for scientific research, according to the CNSA. The Tianwen 2 mission is expected to yield groundbreaking discoveries and expand humanity's understanding of small celestial bodies inside the solar system and our mother planet, scientists said. - China Daily/ANN
United News of India
14-06-2025
- Science
- United News of India
China launches satellite for ‘space-air-ground' integrated monitoring of natural disasters
Jiuquan, June 14 (UNI) China launched an electromagnetic monitoring satellite on Saturday which is expected to enhance Beijing's "space-air-ground" integrated monitoring of major natural disasters. A Long March-2D carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, successfully sending the Zhangheng 1-02 satellite into its planned orbit, according to the China National Space Administration. The satellite's deployment represents the latest achievement in enhancing the country's space-based geophysical field observation capability and will further strengthen its space-air-ground integrated monitoring ability for major natural disasters, it noted. The administration said that the Zhangheng 1B is the result of a cooperation memorandum of understanding signed between China and Italy in 2019. Designed with a six-year lifespan, the satellite carries nine scientific payloads, including an electric field detector co-developed by China and Italy, and a high-energy particle detector developed by Italy, reports China Daily. The spacecraft will conduct near real-time measurement of global electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, the ionosphere and the neutral atmosphere. It will also capture electromagnetic anomalies caused by geological and human activities, as well as information on thunderstorms and lightning activities in the atmosphere. This will effectively enhance China's capabilities for early detection, risk assessment, and early warning of massive natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activities and thunderstorms. Moreover, the satellite will provide data support for emergency management, natural resource mapping, and communication and navigation operations, and foster scientific and technological cooperation in related fields among countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the release.
