分类： technology

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has successfully executed a pivotal ground test for its next-generation reusable launch vehicle, marking another significant stride in the nation’s ambitious space program. The comprehensive engine test for the Long March 12B’s first-stage booster took place Friday afternoon at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

During the meticulously orchestrated trial, engineers initiated and sustained ignition of the rocket’s first-stage engines, systematically validating critical procedures including fueling protocols, ignition sequences, and subsequent operational phases. CASC confirmed all systems performed with exceptional stability and precision throughout the testing duration, demonstrating remarkable reliability that establishes a solid foundation for upcoming flight tests.

The Long March 12B represents China’s cutting-edge approach to space transportation, featuring a two-stage configuration with both stages measuring four meters in diameter. Powered by advanced liquid oxygen-kerosene propulsion systems, the vehicle is engineered to deliver payloads weighing up to 20 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. Industry specifications indicate the rocket will stand approximately 70 meters tall with a liftoff mass of around 700 tons when fully fueled.

A defining characteristic of the Long March 12B is its reusable first-stage booster, designed to autonomously return to Earth after separation from the upper stage. The recovery system incorporates grid fins for atmospheric control and landing legs for vertical touchdown at predetermined landing zones, technology reminiscent of advancements pioneered by other spacefaring nations.

This development follows closely after CASC’s December maiden flight of the Long March 12A, the corporation’s inaugural reusable rocket model. While that mission successfully deployed its second-stage booster to the intended orbital position, the first-stage recovery attempt concluded with the booster crashing near the designated landing site in Gansu province. Engineering teams continue to investigate the causes behind the recovery failure to inform future design improvements.

China’s aviation sector has reached a pivotal milestone with the successful delivery of the first fully domestically-equipped Aurora lightweight sports aircraft. Manufactured by Starair Aircraft, the pioneering aircraft was handed over to its customer in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, featuring China’s first independently developed engine and avionics system.

The achievement represents a transformative leap toward technological self-reliance in China’s general aviation industry. Previously dependent on imported components, Chinese aircraft manufacturers faced significant challenges including extended lead times, prohibitive costs, and complex international delivery processes. The breakthrough eliminates these constraints while demonstrating China’s growing capability in advanced aviation technology.

The Aurora aircraft, initially unveiled at the 2008 China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, has evolved from its original design to incorporate complete domestic propulsion and navigation systems. Industry experts recognize this development as crucial for securing supply chain independence and reducing foreign technological dependencies.

He Qinghua, founder and president of Starair Aircraft, emphasized the strategic importance of this achievement, noting that domestic production of core components ensures greater control over manufacturing timelines and cost structures. The advancement positions China’s aviation sector for accelerated innovation and potentially increased global market participation in the general aviation segment.

This technological breakthrough comes amid growing global competition in the aerospace sector and reflects China’s broader ambitions to establish leadership in high-tech manufacturing industries. The successful integration of domestic systems in a certified aircraft demonstrates practical application of China’s aviation research and development capabilities beyond theoretical advancement.

Legal scholars and technology experts are advocating for the immediate development of comprehensive regulatory frameworks specifically designed for artificial intelligence-powered smartphones. The urgent call emerged from a specialized conference convened at East China University of Political Science and Law this Tuesday, where leading authorities addressed the growing legal and ethical challenges posed by AI-enabled mobile devices.

Professor Li Mingde from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences emphasized the critical need to balance technological innovation with market competition safeguards. “Current legal systems, compliance frameworks, and liability structures must evolve to address the unique challenges presented by AI smartphones,” he stated during the proceedings.

Han Qiang, Deputy Party Secretary of the host institution, highlighted that these concerns transcend technical considerations, representing complex intersections of technological logic, legal frameworks, and ethical standards. The multidimensional nature of these issues underscores the pressing requirement for establishing clear compliance parameters.

Professor Gao Fuping, Dean of the Internet Law Institute, presented a detailed analysis of how AI smartphones fundamentally challenge existing data protection paradigms. “The continuous sensing capabilities, cross-device data reading, and intelligent inference mechanisms inherent in AI devices are disrupting personal information protection systems built on ‘informed consent’ principles,” he explained. Traditional compliance approaches centered on purpose limitation and data minimization face significant adaptation challenges when confronted with AI’s high-frequency, multi-layered data processing methodologies.

The conference produced several key recommendations for regulatory development:

1. Establishing clear compliance boundaries to ensure AI agent permissions remain controllable and traceable
2. Implementing substantive informed consent mechanisms that genuinely guarantee users’ rights to refuse, revoke, and delete data
3. Maintaining comprehensive logs of AI agent processes to document critical operations
4. Developing collaborative governance models involving judicial, administrative regulatory, and industry self-regulatory bodies

Given the inherent limitations of administrative and judicial oversight in rapidly evolving technological landscapes, participants also explored the potential establishment of an independent supervisory entity. Professor Guo He from Renmin University of China stressed that ensuring meaningful user consent remains central to compliance, advocating against vague notifications and promoting user autonomy at critical decision points.

While recognizing the need for regulation, arbitrator Chen Jinchuan from the World Intellectual Property Organization cautioned against premature legislative finalization, suggesting that market competition should be allowed appropriate adjustment room.

In concluding remarks, Liu Junhua, Vice-President of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, emphasized the importance of comprehensive impact assessment and measured response. “We must calmly identify genuine problems and determine optimal timing and methods for legal intervention in this new technological revolution,” he summarized.

Beijing-based commercial aerospace enterprise Galactic Energy has achieved another milestone with the successful sixth maritime deployment of its Ceres 1 carrier rocket. The launch occurred at 4:10 AM local time on January 16, 2026, from a mobile platform stationed in the Yellow Sea near Shandong Province.

The mission successfully delivered four additional satellites into low-Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 850 kilometers, expanding the Tianqi constellation operated by Beijing Guodian Gaoke. This latest deployment brings the constellation’s total to 41 satellites, achieving comprehensive global coverage for Internet of Things (IoT) data collection applications.

The Tianqi network supports critical operations across multiple sectors including sustainable forestry, precision agriculture, ecological tourism, renewable power generation, and environmental monitoring systems. The constellation’s expanded capabilities will enhance real-time data transmission for IoT devices operating in remote locations worldwide.

Since its inaugural flight in November 2020 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Ceres 1 rocket has established an impressive track record. The solid-propellant vehicle stands 20 meters tall with a 1.4-meter diameter, capable of delivering payloads up to 300 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbits or 350 kilograms to lower Earth orbits.

With this most recent accomplishment, Galactic Energy’s launch vehicle has now completed 23 missions with 21 successful deployments, collectively placing 89 commercial satellites into orbit. This achievement reinforces China’s growing private space sector and demonstrates increasing reliability in commercial launch capabilities.

China’s aerospace sector has achieved a significant technological breakthrough with the successful completion of an ambitious high-altitude flight test by the FP-985 Taurus, a large fixed-wing cargo drone. The unmanned aircraft demonstrated exceptional performance during a transprovincial journey across some of China’s most challenging plateau terrain.

The prototype embarked on its landmark mission from Mainling Airport in Nyingchi, located within the Xizang Autonomous Region. This airport presents exceptional operational difficulties due to its elevation of approximately 2,900 meters and its precarious positioning within narrow, cloud-enshrouded river valleys. The drone, laden with regional specialties including traditional butter tea and yak dairy products, navigated the complex western foothills of the Himalayan mountains during its carefully planned route.

Following three hours and forty-four minutes of flight, covering approximately 800 kilometers and reaching altitudes of 7,500 meters, the aircraft executed a precision landing at Kangding Airport in Sichuan’s Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Situated at over 4,200 meters above sea level, Kangding ranks among the world’s highest-altitude airports. The demonstration continued as the drone departed Kangding, ultimately concluding its 1,200-kilometer journey at Beichuan Yongchang Airport in Mianyang.

Developed by Aerospace Times Feipeng, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the FP-985 Taurus represents a specialized solution for operations in geographically complex regions including plateaus and remote islands. The aircraft boasts impressive technical specifications: maximum takeoff weight of 5.7 metric tons, payload capacity exceeding 2 tons, and an operational range beyond 2,000 kilometers.

Engineered for versatility, the drone features short takeoff and landing capabilities adaptable to both standard and poorly-equipped airfields. Advanced systems include comprehensive anti-icing and de-icing mechanisms, lightning protection, and enhanced wind resistance.

The manufacturer emphasizes the drone’s potential to transform logistics in remote high-altitude regions, addressing persistent challenges of extended transit times, elevated risks, and limited transportation alternatives. The company projects that unmanned low-altitude transportation will significantly improve the delivery efficiency of agricultural products and time-sensitive supplies across western China, while simultaneously supporting regional economic development, major infrastructure projects, and enhanced emergency response capabilities.

Hangzhou has achieved international acclaim as the United Nations designated the Chinese metropolis among the world’s top 20 Zero Waste Cities. This prestigious recognition from the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste highlights Hangzhou’s successful integration of technological innovation with environmental sustainability in waste management.

The city’s transformation stems from its pioneering ‘digital intelligence’ approach that has revolutionized waste processing for its 12.6 million residents. Between 2021 and 2024, Hangzhou achieved a remarkable reduction in daily waste generation per capita from 1.06 kilograms to 0.99 kg. The municipality maintains an exceptional 98% utilization rate for general industrial solid waste while keeping hazardous waste landfill rates below 3.5%. Since late 2020, the city has accomplished ‘zero landfill’ status for municipal solid waste.

Central to this success is Hangzhou’s smart waste governance platform, functioning as a digital brain that coordinates citywide operations. The system integrates 7,361 waste collection points, 1,780 clearance vehicles, nine incineration plants, and 11 kitchen waste treatment facilities into a unified network. Real-time data monitoring ensures complete transparency, enabling regulators to track waste movement and optimize resource allocation with unprecedented precision.

For citizens, this technological advancement translates into practical benefits through platforms like Huge Recycle, which serves 559,000 households across Yuhang and Linping districts. Residents can schedule door-to-door pickups via mobile app and convert recyclables into ‘eco-credits’ redeemable for shopping benefits or cash rewards. The system employs an ‘exclusionary classification’ method that simplifies participation—residents need only separate kitchen and bathroom waste while placing all other recyclables in a single bag.

Beyond citywide systems, Hangzhou has developed specialized solutions including 3,200 ‘zero-waste cells’ established across schools, communities, and shopping malls. Innovative approaches range from Jingling Recycling Buses collecting low-value recyclables in Xihu district to biological decomposition using black soldier fly larvae in Fuyang district.

The UN will feature Hangzhou’s case study in a high-profile global release on March 30, coinciding with the UN International Day of Zero Waste. According to Gao Yiliang, director of the Hangzhou Ecology and Environment Bureau’s Soil and Solid Waste Chemicals Division, this recognition represents ‘a high affirmation of our exploration in deeply integrating digitalization with the circular economy.’ The city has codified its successful practices into official guidelines, demonstrated during recent events like the Yuhang district marathon where single-use materials were eliminated and paper guides replaced with electronic alternatives.

China has achieved another milestone in its commercial space program with the successful offshore launch of the CERES-1 Y7 rocket from waters near Shandong province. The early morning operation, conducted at 4:10 am Beijing Time on Friday, marked a significant advancement in China’s maritime space capabilities.

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center orchestrated the complex maritime mission that successfully placed multiple satellites into their predetermined orbit. These satellites form part of the expanding Tianqi constellation, which represents China’s growing ambitions in satellite networking and global connectivity solutions.

This launch demonstrates China’s increasing sophistication in flexible launch operations, utilizing maritime platforms to enhance operational flexibility and potentially reduce costs compared to traditional land-based launches. The CERES rocket series, developed by Chinese private aerospace company Galactic Energy, has established itself as a reliable workhorse for China’s commercial space sector.

The successful mission underscores China’s rapid progress in developing its commercial space industry, which has seen substantial growth and technological innovation in recent years. Maritime launches offer distinct advantages including expanded launch windows, reduced population safety concerns, and the ability to position launches closer to the equator for improved payload efficiency.

This achievement positions China among a select group of nations capable of executing complex offshore space operations, highlighting the country’s maturing aerospace capabilities across both state and commercial sectors.

The United Arab Emirates is emerging as a global hub for transformative artificial intelligence applications, with groundbreaking initiatives in healthcare and bionic technology demonstrating the technology’s life-changing potential. At the forefront of this revolution is an AI-enabled genetic screening program for newborns, implemented in 2025, that identifies rare conditions during an infant’s first weeks of life—long before symptoms manifest. This proactive approach has already yielded remarkable success stories, with three cases identified in the program’s inaugural month alone, fundamentally altering medical outcomes from potential lifelong illness to healthy futures.

Ebtesam Almazrouei, CEO of AIE3 and chairperson of the UN’s AI for Good Impact Initiative, highlighted these achievements during the Dubai International Project Management Forum, emphasizing how AI, big data analytics, and machine learning represent innovation at its finest for healthcare services and medical research.

The technological showcase extended to wearable robotics, with MIT Media Lab Professor Hugh Herr presenting revolutionary brain-connected bionic limbs. These advanced prosthetics enable users to think, control, and feel sensory feedback from robotic limbs through electromechanical-biological fusion. Herr, a bilateral amputee who relies on bionics himself following a climbing accident, predicts that bionic hands will soon surpass the strength of biological counterparts.

Despite these extraordinary advancements, forum participants unanimously stressed the imperative of robust safeguards. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Government Cyber Security Council, outlined the nation’s approach to AI governance as an enabler of trust rather than a barrier. Emphasizing that “the first line of defence is still the people,” he detailed comprehensive cybersecurity strategies addressing evolved threats in cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and cyber warfare, with particular focus on protecting critical healthcare and energy infrastructure.

The forum, which gathered hundreds of international experts, also addressed regional talent development needs. Hanny Alshazly of the Project Management Institute noted the anticipated requirement for approximately 600,000 project management professionals in the MENA region by 2035, highlighting ongoing efforts to elevate standards and support community development in partnership with leadership.