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China Technology

Chinese State Media’s ‘Student-Built Rocket’ Claims Draw Skepticism Over Technology and Oversight

State media hailed five students for developing an advanced rocket, but critics question the role of outside organizations and technology.
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Chinese State Media’s ‘Student-Built Rocket’ Claims Draw Skepticism Over Technology and Oversight
A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft and a crew of three astronauts, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert on April 24, 2025. Pedro Prdoa/AFP via Getty Images
Michael Zhuang
Michael Zhuang
6/16/2026|Updated: 6/16/2026
0:00

Chinese state media’s celebration of a rocket developed by five high school students has sparked widespread skepticism online and among observers, who are questioning whether the students independently created the advanced technologies highlighted in official reports.

The controversy began after several Chinese state-run media outlets, including the regime’s propaganda mouthpiece People’s Daily, reported that five sophomore students at Heilongjiang Provincial Experimental High School successfully launched a rocket named “Yunzhou-1” from a launch site in Qinghai Province on June 9.

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Michael Zhuang
Michael Zhuang
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Michael Zhuang is a contributor to The Epoch Times with a focus on China-related topics.
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