CNBC reports, “The highly anticipated SpaceX mega-IPO is part of a space frenzy that is moving beyond satellite connectivity, launch vehicles, and aerospace defense to the pharmaceutical sector. A growing number of companies are heading to lower Earth orbit to make medicines in microgravity.”
Full Story (CNBC)
Tag: Space Race
China’s Qianfan Constellation Reaches 200 Satellites in Orbit
Space News reports, “Construction of the Shanghai-led Qianfan constellation continued to accelerate this week with a pair of Long March launches, following on from two recent experimental flights. China launched Long March 6A and Long March 8 rockets Thursday and Friday respectively, adding 36 satellites to the project led by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), or Spacesail.”
Full Story (Space News)
Isaacman Predicts Chinese Crewed Lunar Flyby by 2027
Space News reports, “The head of NASA says he expects China to perform a crewed flight around the moon in 2027, ratcheting up perceptions of a space race between China and the United States. In a May 19 keynote at the ASCEND conference here, Jared Isaacman warned a space industry audience that the next people to fly around the moon would be Chinese.”
Full Story (Space News)
China Ramps Up Commercial Space Race with Lijian-2 “Super Factory”
Aviation News reports, “China has reached a pivotal milestone in its commercial aerospace ambitions with the full completion of a state-of-the-art ‘super factory’ in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province.”
Full Story (Aviation News)
Video
China launches a Lijian-2 Y1 carrier rocket on March 30, 2026 (Launch occurs at the 0:01 mark)
ShanghaiEye; YouTube; Framegrab