China launches the Shenzhou-22 spaceship from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Li Minggang/Xinhua)

China carried out a record 92 space launches in 2025, with multiple breakthroughs and a number of firsts across manned spaceflight, deep-space exploration and commercial spaceflight achieved, CCTV News reported on Saturday, citing the China National Space Administration.

"In 2025, we set a new launch record, placing more than 300 satellites into their designated orbits, with both the number of launches and the volume of satellites deployed achieved an exponential leap," Zhu Haiyang, a representative of China Aerospace Science and Technology Co, was quoted by CCTV News as saying.

The Shenzhou-20 crew set a new record in 2025 for the longest in-orbit stay by a Chinese astronaut crew, totaling 204 days. Notably, in response to an unexpected situation involving the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship, China successfully carried out its first emergency launch mission within 16 days, demonstrating rapid emergency response capabilities in human spaceflight, according to CCTV News.

Also in 2025, the Tianwen-2 probe began its star-chasing mission to explore asteroids and comets, further extending China's footprint in deep-space exploration, the report noted.

Meanwhile, the frequent launches of multiple types of commercial rockets and the booming development of commercial spaceflight have injected strong momentum into China's space endeavor, per the report.

In 2026, the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), a series of tests for China's manned lunar landing program will get underway, The Chang'e-7 mission will target the lunar south pole in search of water ice, and several new rockets are set to make their maiden flights while attempting recovery. China's space sector is embarking on a new journey toward its goal of becoming a major space power, the report said. 

Global Times