24 April 2020
The Space Day of China, which falls on 24 April, is more special this year, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the successful launch of Dongfanghong 1, the country's first man-made satellite. It listed China as the fifth country in the world to develop and launch a man-made satellite on its own, and recorded the country's first step in exploring the vast space.
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Defying gravity: China's space exploration - a timeline

24 April 2020
China's first Mars exploration mission has been named Tianwen 1, announced the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on 24 April, China's Space Day. The name comes from the long poem "Tianwen," meaning Questions to Heaven, written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China.
In "Tianwen," Qu Yuan raised a series of questions in verse involving the sky, stars, natural phenomena, myths and the real world, showing his doubts about some traditional concepts and the spirit of seeking the truth.
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news on the topic by CNSA with graphic of the mission logo
Special CNSA website dedicated to China Space Day 2020 with access to the online space exhibition

24 April 2020
China Post issued a First Day Cover (FDC) and a set of commemorative stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the successful launch of Dongfanghong 1, China's first man-made satellite on 24 April 2020. It was also the 5th Space Day of China.
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25 April 2020
China’s space programme became much more transparent and accessible over the last decade. But still, there is no other and in particular no better standard work about China’s efforts in space than “China in Space - The Great Leap Forward” by Irish space author and analyst Brian Harvey.
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