China is accelerating its ambitious lunar exploration agenda with the Chang’e-7 mission, set for launch in 2026. This mission is a crucial step in China’s broader vision of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon by the 2030s.
Boom Supersonic’s experimental aircraft, the XB-1, has officially broken the sound barrier, marking a major advancement in supersonic aviation technology and bringing commercial supersonic travel one step closer to reality.
Usually, when one thinks of an airplane, a huge tubular structure with wings and a tail attached comes to mind. It’s no secret that this traditional superstructure doesn’t generate much lift, despite the number of passengers or cargo it can carry. Of course, alternative designs have been developed for these precise reasons, some of which have even reached series production.
Beijing-based Lingkong Tianxing Technology, also known as Space Transportation, has successfully tested a prototype aircraft capable of reaching Mach 4, which is equivalent to approximately 4,930 km/h. This achievement places the company’s technology at twice the speed of the Concorde, which was one of the most iconic supersonic passenger jets, capable of flying at around 2,150 km/h. This leap in speed represents a significant advancement in supersonic aviation, heralding a new era of ultra-fast travel for both civilian and potential military applications.
China recently unveiled its new J-35A stealth fighter at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China, where it demonstrated its capabilities for the first time during an adaptive training exercise. The J-35A is China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter after the J-20, making it the only country after the United States to operate two such advanced aircraft. This significant milestone reflects China’s rapid advancements in military technology and its determination to achieve parity with leading global powers.
China has recently made an exciting breakthrough in aviation technology with the successful test flight of a prototype supersonic passenger aircraft, named Yunhsing. This new aircraft aims to fly nearly twice as fast as the famous Concorde, reaching speeds of up to Mach 4, or roughly 4,900 km/hour, and is being developed by Space Transportation, also known as Lingkong Tianxing Technology, a Beijing-based aerospace company. Notably, Yunhsing will also feature vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities, setting it apart from previous supersonic passenger aircraft.