The Chinese space age is upon us.
Beyond banner projects like the nation’s very own orbital space station and successful developments like reusable rocket boosters, the People’s Republic is pioneering a host of far-flung space initiatives that are cementing it as a power player in Earth’s orbit and beyond.
Case in point: a Chinese spacecraft is now within mere miles of one of the Earth’s seven mysterious “quasi-moons,” the asteroid known as Kamo’oalewa — making it the first world power to approach the mysterious object.
Launched in May of 2025, the Chinese spacecraft Tianwen-2 is now within 12.5 miles of the asteroid’s surface, Space.com reports, allowing it to return the first clear photo ever taken of Kamo’oalewa.
