China sets record with 92 space launches in 2025

China closed 2025 with a record 92 space launches, state space agencies said, asserting the year marked the country’s busiest and most technologically diverse period in orbital activity to date. Officials reported more than 300 satellites placed into planned orbits, a surge driven by government programs and a rapidly expanding commercial launch sector that together boosted launch cadence, payload throughput and operational coordination across multiple spaceports.

Manned spaceflight milestones featured prominently: the Shenzhou-20 crew set a national record with a 204-day single-mission duration, and the subsequent Shenzhou-21 achieved the fastest rendezvous and docking in Shenzhou program history, completing the maneuver in three-and-a-half hours. Authorities also highlighted a swift and tightly coordinated emergency response after an unexpected technical anomaly aboard Shenzhou-20, noting that the launch of the Shenzhou-22 backup vehicle and a sequence of corrective maneuvers were executed within 16 days—a response Beijing described as a “textbook model” for international peers.

Deep-space exploration advanced with the Tianwen-2 probe’s departure on China’s first asteroid exploration and sample-return mission, expanding Beijing’s portfolio of interplanetary objectives alongside lunar ambitions. Preparatory work accelerated for upcoming lunar missions, including tests in support of the Chang’e-7 probe slated for the lunar south pole to search for water-ice deposits. Officials also flagged plans to test rocket recovery and reusability technologies as part of maiden flights for several new commercial and state rocket types.

Commercial activity intensified: multiple private launch vehicles conducted frequent flights, contributing materially to the year’s high launch count and signaling a maturing commercial ecosystem in propulsion, satellite manufacturing and rapid turnaround operations. State and industry leaders attributed improved launch efficiency to closer coordination between state-run programs and private firms, alongside investments in launch infrastructure and talent development.

Chinese authorities framed the record year as aligning with broader strategic objectives under the new Five-Year Plan cycle, casting space technology as a core pillar of national development and economic innovation. Analysts noted the scale and tempo of China’s 2025 launch campaign now rival those of other leading spacefaring nations, increasing competitive pressure in orbital services and technology demonstration.