
Andrew Jones
Andrew is a freelance space journalist with a focus on reporting on China's rapidly growing space sector. He began writing for Live Science sister site Space.com in 2019, and he also writes for SpaceNews, IEEE Spectrum, National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, New Scientist and others. Andrew first caught the space bug when, as a youngster, he saw Voyager images of other worlds in our solar system for the first time. Away from space, Andrew enjoys trail running in the forests of Finland.
Latest articles by Andrew Jones

Secretive Russian military satellites release mystery object into orbit
By Andrew Jones published
The classified Kosmos satellite trio has sparked intrigue in space-tracking circles.

China plans to build moon base at the lunar south pole by 2035
By Andrew Jones published
The first phase of China's moon base will be completed around 2035 near the lunar south pole, and an extended model will be built by about 2050, if all goes according to plan.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 prototype aces 2nd test flight
By Andrew Jones published
The flight tested the vehicle's landing gear and roll damper for improved handling.

China opens Chang'e 6 return capsule containing samples from moon's far side
By Andrew Jones published
China's Chang'e 6 mission return capsule has been transferred to Beijing and opened to access its precious cargo — samples from the moon's mysterious far side.

Japan loses contact with Akatsuki, humanity's only active Venus probe
By Andrew Jones published
Japan has lost contact with its Akatsuki probe, the only spacecraft currently in orbit around Venus.

Haunting photo of Earth and moon snapped by China's experimental lunar satellites
By Andrew Jones published
China's experimental moon satellites Tiandu-1 and 2 are testing lunar communications and navigation tech. Recently, they shared this image of the lunar surface with a ghostly Earth in the background.

Radar images show Europe's doomed ERS-2 satellite buckle and burn during final orbits of Earth
By Andrew Jones published
New radar images show surprise changes to the doomed ERS-2 spacecraft as it tumbled through Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 21.

China eyes May 2024 launch for 1st-ever lunar sample-return mission to far side of the moon
By Andrew Jones published
China's Chang'e-6 mission is expected to launch in May 2024 and touch down on the moon's far side to collect samples of lunar material to be returned to Earth for study.

Japan's SLIM moon lander may be dead for good as freezing lunar night sets in
By Andrew Jones published
Days after being revived from its initial power loss on the moon, Japan's SLIM lander will now sleep through the deep cold of lunar night — and may or may not wake up afterward.

NASA's 1st successful 2-way laser experiment is a giant leap for moon and Mars communications
By Andrew Jones published
NASA has successfully transmitted data between Earth and two spacecraft using lasers, completing a groundbreaking experiment that could aid in future missions to other worlds.

China successfully grows lettuce and tomatoes aboard Tiangong space station
By Andrew Jones published
Lettuce, cherry tomatoes and more are sprouting in space aboard China's Tiangong space station.

Watch Chinese astronauts light a spherical fire in risky open-flame experiment on Tiangong space station
By Andrew Jones published
Chinese astronauts lit a match while filming a lecture aboard the Tiangong Space Station, creating a spherical open flame that would be forbidden aboard the ISS.

See a European satellite take a fiery fall through the atmosphere in world-1st mission
By Andrew Jones published
ESA's wind-measuring Aeolus satellite was spotted before its flaming demise over Antarctica.

See stunning new photos and videos of the moon as India's Chandrayaan-3 rover enters lunar orbit
By Andrew Jones published
India's Chandrayaan-3 rover reached lunar orbit on Aug. 5, sharing new photos and videos of the moon ahead of its planned Aug. 23 landing.

How long could a person survive in space without a spacesuit?
By Andrew Jones published
How long could you survive if thrust into the harsh vacuum of space without protection? The short answer is, not very long.

China's Mars orbiter snaps amazing selfies above Red Planet
By Andrew Jones published
China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft used a small camera to snap stunning images of the orbiter above Mars.

Europe's Mars orbiter relays data from Chinese rover back to Earth
By Andrew Jones published
The European Space Agency's Mars Express collected data from China's Zhurong Mars rover and successfully sent it to Earth following a series of experimental communications tests.

China's fresh moon rocks are younger than the Apollo samples and no one knows why
By Andrew Jones published
New analyses of moon rocks from the Chang'e 5 mission deepen the mysteries surrounding volcanic activity.

China just test-fired a massive solid-fueled rocket
By Andrew Jones published
China has test fired a huge new solid rocket motor, creating more propulsion options for the country’s growing space activities.

Chinese astronauts send back stunning images of Earth from Tianhe space station module (photos)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Shenzhou 12 astronauts have sent back stunning images taken out of small windows on the Tianhe space station module in low Earth orbit.

China's Yutu 2 rover about to 'wake up' on the far side of the moon
By Andrew Jones published
China's plucky Yutu 2 rover is about to wake up and continue to explore the far side of the moon as the nation works to land a rover on Mars this May.

China launches more classified Yaogan satellites into orbit
By Andrew Jones published
China conducted two launches of classified Yaogan satellites in the last week while much of the world waited to see where and when the Long March 5B would fall.

China wants to launch its own Hubble-class telescope as part of space station
By Andrew Jones published
China could launch the first module for its own space station this month as the country also prepares to send a large space telescope to join it in orbit within the next few years.
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