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The New Space Race

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica,
Patrick Riley
Patrick Riley is the Senior Illustrator for Encyclopædia Britannica. He has worked at Britannica since 2007.
Patrick Riley
New space race infographic between China, India, and Japan. Asian space race, space exploration
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Patrick O'Neill Riley

Map

The infographic shows a map of Earth on which India, China, and Japan are highlighted in shades of orange, purple, and red, respectively. From launch sites marked on these countries, arrows in colors matching the countries represent the trajectories of various space missions toward the Moon, Mars, or asteroids. Many missions for India take off from Sriharikota Island. Many missions for China take off from Xichang or Wenchang. Many missions for Japan take off from Tanegashima.

To the Moon

India

  • Chandrayaan-1 (2008)
  • Chandrayaan-2 (2019)
  • Chandrayaan-3 (2023)

China

  • Chang’e 1 (2007)
  • Chang’e 2 (2010)
  • Chang’e 3 (2013)
  • Chang’e 4 (2018)
  • Chang’e 5 (2020)
  • Chang’e 6 (2024)

Japan

  • SELENE (Kaguya; 2007)
  • SLIM (2024)

To Mars

India

China

  • Tianwen-1/Zhurong (2020)

Japan

  • MMX (2026)

To asteroids

Japan

Timeline

  • In 2003 Japan launched Hayabusa. The spacecraft returned to Earth with an asteroid sample in 2010.
  • In 2007 Japan launched SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer; also called Kaguya). The craft orbited the Moon for nearly two years.
  • In 2007 Chang’e 1 was launched. It was the first Chinese Moon probe.
  • In 2008 India launched Chandrayaan-1. The mission discovered water on the Moon.
  • In 2010 China launched Chang’e 2. The probe orbited the Moon for eight months and then flew by an asteroid.
  • In 2013 the Mars Orbiter Mission was launched. It was India’s first interplanetary mission.
  • In 2013 China launched Chang’e 3, which put a lander on the Moon with the rover Yutu.
  • In 2014 Japan launched Hayabusa2. The probe dispatched an asteroid sample to Earth in 2020.
  • In 2018 China launched Chang’e 4. The probe was the first to land on the far side of the Moon.
  • In 2019 India launched Chandrayaan-2. A craft orbited the Moon, and a lander with a rover attempted to touch down, but contact with it was lost.
  • In 2020 China launched Chang’e 5, and the probe returned to Earth with a lunar sample.
  • In 2020 Tianwen-1/Zhurong (Mars Global Remote Sensing Orbiter and Small Rover) was launched. It was the first Chinese mission to Mars.
  • In 2023 Chandrayaan-3 was launched. It placed a lander with rover near the Moon’s south pole.
  • In 2024 Japan launched SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), which landed near the lunar lava tube entrance.
  • In 2024 China will launch Chang’e 6. The mission will send lunar samples to Earth.
  • In 2024 India will launch Mars Orbiter Mission 2, and the orbiter will perform detailed observations of Mars.
  • In 2026 Japan will launch MMX (Martian Moons Exploration), and the mission will send back samples from the Martian moon Phobos.