A black-and-white image of an inflatable space habitat module deployed in orbit, with Earth’s surface visible in the background. The module features a smooth, rounded structure and reflective material at its base, showcasing its lightweight and flexible design.
An onboard view of the inflatable module tested aboard the Shijian-19 spacecraft.

BREMEN, Germany — China tested out a small expandable module in orbit during the recent Shijian-19 mission, an update more than a month after the spacecraft’s landing reveals. The Shijian-19 retrievable satellite launched on a Long March 2D rocket from Jiuquan Sept. 27 and landed late Eastern Oct. 10 at the nearby Dongfeng landing site […]

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Andrew Jones covers China's space industry for SpaceNews. Andrew has previously lived in China and reported from major space conferences there. Based in Helsinki, Finland, he has written for National Geographic, New Scientist, Smithsonian Magazine, Sky...