🇨🇳 China's Space Strategy

Here is a timeline of key developments in China's National Space Strategy over the past 25 years:

1. 2021: China's Space Program White Paper

In January 2021, China released a comprehensive white paper titled "China’s Space Program: A 2021 Perspective." This document outlined China's ambitious space goals for the next five years, including enhancing its space transportation capabilities, continuing lunar exploration, and preparing for crewed lunar landings. The paper also emphasized deep space exploration, international cooperation, and strengthening space traffic management and debris monitoring.

• Read more about the 2021 white paper【126†source】【128†source】.

2. 2020: Completion of BeiDou Satellite System

In 2020, China completed its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3), marking a significant milestone in its national space strategy. The system now provides global positioning services, making China one of the few countries with its own independent satellite navigation network. This completed the three-step plan initiated in 1994 to create a global navigation system.

• More about BeiDou's completion【129†source】.

3. 2016: Five-Year Space Plan (2016-2020)

China's space activities from 2016 to 2020 focused on developing key space infrastructure, including advancements in lunar exploration, Earth observation satellites, and space station construction. This period saw the successful Chang’e-4 mission, which made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon in 2019, and the launch of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe.

• Further details on China’s space achievements【127†source】.

4. 2013: Chang'e-3 Lunar Mission

In December 2013, China successfully landed the Chang’e-3 lunar probe, which deployed its first moon rover. This achievement marked China’s return to lunar exploration, setting the stage for future lunar and deep space missions, such as Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-5.

• Overview of the Chang’e missions【129†source】.

5. 2003: First Crewed Spaceflight

In October 2003, China became the third country to independently send humans into space with the Shenzhou-5 mission. This was a major step in its space program, laying the foundation for the future construction of its own space station and subsequent manned missions.

• Learn more about China's crewed space program【130†source】.

6. 1999: Shenzhou Program Initiation

The launch of the Shenzhou-1 spacecraft in 1999 marked the beginning of China’s human spaceflight program. This mission was uncrewed but set the stage for later crewed missions, including Shenzhou-5 and beyond.

• Details on China's Shenzhou program【130†source】.

China’s National Space Strategy over the last 25 years has evolved rapidly, with major milestones in satellite navigation, lunar exploration, and crewed spaceflight. These achievements reflect the country’s goal of becoming a dominant space power, with plans for more ambitious missions in the near future, including potential manned lunar landings.