Global spaceflight updates connected to traceable sources and structured space entities.
The main structures of phase two were completed on 29 September and rehearsals began. Two new medium-class liquid-rocket pads still require testing before entering launch service.
A Long March 8A began integrated testing at a second vertical test position at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site on June 7, 2026. CASC disclosed the milestone on June 12. The Long March 8 family can now process two rockets in parallel at two test positions.
Rocket Lab announced German regulatory approval for Mynaric’s acquisition on March 30, 2026, expecting an April close. Regulatory approval is not closing itself. Mynaric already supplies CONDOR Mk3 optical terminals for Rocket Lab SDA programmes; the cited thirty-six satellites and 1.3-billion-dollar prime contracts are programme context, not acquisition price. Munich headquarters and expanded production were planned. A later closing announcement remains a separate stage. Integration ambitions do not establish completed new capacity, and undisclosed price and delivery details are not inferred.
CASC described the online release of its commercial-space industrial-chain standards framework and related Tianjun services on March 10, 2026. The framework guides coordinated standards development; it is not confirmation that every proposed standard has already taken effect.
A commercial-space industrial-chain forum in Shanghai released three frameworks on January 29, 2026: a development vision for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, major supply-and-demand information and an industrial-chain standards structure. CASC and the Chinese Society of Astronautics jointly organised the event, which also launched a continuing coordination mechanism.
CASC outlined its 2026 programme at its annual work meeting on 15 January. Priorities include crewed lunar exploration, deep-space programmes, reusable-rocket technology and the transition towards industrialised space operations.