30 March 2018
Comprehensive training for astronauts on China's future space station missions is underway, according to Huang Weifen, Deputy Chief Designer at the ACC Astronaut Center of China. The missions for the space station will feature long in-orbit stays, regular extra-vehicular activities, in-orbit assembling and repair of the station, which means more challenges for the selection and training of astronauts, she said. Currently, astronauts have begun the study of space station technology, mechanical arms and extra-vehicular activities. They have also gone through diving training for adaptation, and intensified their strength and stamina training.
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CCTV video footage with story line

Sheshan, the south-western suburb of Shanghai is home to several telescopes, optical ones and radio telescopes. The latest addition to the Sheshan telescope park is the 65-m radio telescope, named after the divine winged horse “Tianma” or: “Pegasus” - as it would be called according to the terminology of Greek Mythology. It was built within 4 years after project approval and from day one of operation it was involved in China’s lunar exploration missions as well as single-dish observations of radio spectral lines and pulsars and the European VLBI Network.

The latest issue of GoTaikonauts! newsletter, issue no 20 has a report on a tour to the historical observatory of West Sheshan Mountain and to the “Tianma” Sheshan 65-m radio telescope. Some photos can be found on our Facebook account.

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31 March 2018
On 31 March, China launched three Gaofen-1 imaging satellites as part of the country's high-definition Earth observation project. The satellites was launched off on the back of a Long March 4C rocket at 11:22 a.m. Beijing time from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province. It was the 270th flight mission by a Long March carrier rocket.
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video: China puts 1st commercial satellite constellation into use - Mission profile

The launch of three Gaofen-1 high-definition imaging satellites marks the beginning of China's efforts to build a national civil space infrastructure system scheduled to be completed in 2025.
CCTV video footage of the launch, launch preparation and interviews with space officials

China released many videos on the launch and the mission of the Gaofen satellite triplet. Follow the link for more videos.

01 April 2018
China recently unveiled its space station core module developed in Tianjin Aerospace Town, as the country is carrying out the last step in its three-step strategy of the manned space programme. Behind the development of the space station is a group of engineers with an average age of 35. Recently, the engineers have been running some tests on the core module. Zhang Hao, a Senior Designer of the space station system with China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, introduced the module.
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