Today, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Space Administration, and the China Manned Space Engineering Office jointly announced the country’s first National Space Science Program, titled “National Space Science Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2024-2050).” This plan outlines the foundational principles, development goals, and roadmap for the future of space science in China through 2050.
What are the key objectives?
The “National Space Science Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2024-2050)” is set to serve as the guiding framework for the deployment of space science missions and research in the immediate and long-term future.
The plan outlines several fundamental principles for the development of space science in China, emphasizing a fourfold focus, systematic collaboration, and open cooperation.
The overarching goal for China’s space science development is to strategically deploy and validate national space science missions, enhance foundational research driven by these missions, cultivate a robust talent pool in the field, and continually achieve groundbreaking original results with significant international influence. The aim is to achieve high-quality development in space science, positioning China among the global leaders and establishing it as a formidable space science power.
Five Major Themes and Seventeen Priority Areas for Development
The plan identifies five major scientific themes and seventeen priority areas where breakthroughs are anticipated:
1. **Extreme Universe**: This theme focuses on exploring the origin and evolution of the universe while revealing the physical laws under extreme cosmic conditions. Key areas of development include dark matter in the extreme universe, cosmic origin and evolution, and baryonic matter detection.
2. **Ripples in Spacetime**: The objective here is to detect mid- and low-frequency gravitational waves and primordial gravitational waves, thereby unveiling the essence of gravity and spacetime. The priority area for development is space gravitational wave detection.
3. **Earth-Sun Perspective**: This theme investigates the Earth, the Sun, and the heliosphere, aiming to uncover the physical processes and laws governing the intricate relationship between the Sun and the solar system. Priority areas include the Earth’s cycling system, comprehensive lunar observations, space weather detection, three-dimensional solar observations, and heliosphere exploration.
4. **Habitable Planets**: This theme explores the habitability of celestial bodies within our solar system and exoplanets, along with the search for extraterrestrial life. Areas of focus include sustainable development, solar system archaeology, characterizing planetary layers, exploring extraterrestrial life, and detecting exoplanets.
5. **Space Material Interaction**: This theme seeks to reveal the patterns of material movement and life activities in space, deepening our understanding of fundamental physics, including quantum mechanics and general relativity. Key areas include microgravity science, quantum mechanics and general relativity, and space life sciences.
Roadmap to 2050: Three Phases of Development
The plan also lays out a roadmap for the future of space science in China that extends to 2050, divided into three key phases:
**Phase One (up to 2027)**: Operate the Chinese space station while implementing crewed lunar exploration, the fourth phase of lunar exploration, and planetary exploration programs. This phase aims to evaluate and initiate 5 to 8 space science satellite missions, with several original results expected to have significant international impact.
**Phase Two (2028-2035)**: Continue operating the Chinese space station, evaluate scientific tasks related to crewed lunar exploration and lunar research stations, and work on approximately 15 space science satellite missions, aiming for original results that rank among the world’s best.
**Phase Three (2036-2050)**: Validate and implement over 30 space science missions, achieving leading positions in key areas on the global stage.
Editor: Wang Qin
