China on Tuesday unveiled a national mid- and long-term development program for space science, which will guide the planning of the country’s space science missions and space research between 2024 and 2050.
The program, the first of its kind at the national level, was jointly released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the China National Space Administration and the China Human Spaceflight Agency at a conference of press organized by the Information Office of the State Council.
The program sets out the development goals of China’s space science, including 17 priority areas divided into five key scientific themes, as well as a three-phase roadmap.
The five key scientific themes include the extreme universe, space-time ripples, Sun-Earth panoramic view, habitable planets and biological and physical sciences in space, said Ding Chibiao, vice president of the ASC , during the press conference.
The extreme universe theme focuses on exploring the origin and evolution of the universe, revealing physical laws under extreme cosmic conditions. Its priority areas range from dark matter and the extreme universe to the origin and evolution of the universe, including the detection of cosmic baryonic matter, according to the program.
The theme of space-time ripples focuses on the detection of mid- and low-frequency gravitational waves and primordial gravitational waves, with the aim of discovering the nature of gravity and space-time. The priority area of this theme is the detection of gravitational waves from space, Ding explained.
The Sun-Earth Panoramic View theme involves the exploration of the Sun, Earth, and heliosphere in order to unravel the physical processes and laws governing the complex interactions within the Sun-Earth system. Priority areas include Earth cycle systems, integral Earth and Moon observation, space weather observation, three-dimensional exploration of the Sun and exploration of the heliosphere, according to the program.
Scientists will also explore the habitability of solar system celestial bodies and exoplanets, as well as the search for extraterrestrial life. Key areas in this field cover sustainable development, the origin and evolution of the solar system, the characterization of planetary atmospheres, the search for extraterrestrial life and the detection of exoplanets.
The theme of biological and physical sciences in space aims to reveal the laws of motion of matter and activities of life in space conditions in order to deepen the understanding of fundamental physics, such as quantum mechanics and relativity general. Priority areas include the sciences of microgravity, quantum mechanics and general relativity, as well as space life sciences, Ding added.
The program also charts a roadmap for the development of space science in China until 2050.
During the first phase extending until 2027, China will focus on the operation of its space station, the implementation of the manned lunar exploration project, the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program as well as as the planetary exploration project. Five to eight science satellite missions will be approved during this period, depending on the program.
The international lunar research station initiated by China will be built in the second phase, from 2028 to 2035, and about 15 scientific satellite missions will be carried out during this period.
China will launch more than 30 scientific missions into space in the third phase, from 2036 to 2050.
