Unremitting pursuit of space dream

T The he Information Information Office Office of of the State the CouncilState Councilon Tuesdayon Tuesday published a white published a white paper on paper on China’s space China’s space activities in 2016. activities in 2016. Following is the Go full onlinetext: for full-text article Preamble I. Purposes, Vision and Principles of Development PreambleII. Major Developments Since 2011 I. III. Purposes,Major Tasks Vision for and theNext Principles Five of DevelopmentYears II. IV. Major Policies Developments andMeasures Sincefor Development2011 Major Tasks for the Next Five Years III. V. International Exchanges and IV. Policies and Measures for Cooperation Development Conclusion V. International Exchanges and Cooperation ConclusionSpace activities make up one of the most challenging hi-tech fields which exert enormous impact on other Space fields. activities Space make activitiesup one haveof the most greatly challenging improved hi-tech man’s fields knowledge which exertof space, enormousand provide impact an on importantother fields. Space driving activitiesforce for have social greatly progress. improved man’s Currently, knowledgemore andof space, more and countries, provide an important including driving developingforce for ones, social are progress.making the Currently, developmentmore andof space more countries, activities includingan important developing strategic ones, are choice. making Thus the space development activities of aroundspace activitiesthe world an are important flourishing. strategic choice. Thus The space Chinese activities governmentaround the takes world are the flourishing.space industry as an important part The of Chinesethe nation’s government overall takes development the space industry strategy, as and an adheres important to partthe of principlethe nation’sof explorationoverall developmentand utilization strategy,of outerand adheresspace for to peacefulthe principle purposes. of explorationOver the and past utilization60 years of of outer space remarkablefor peaceful development purposes. since Over its the past space 60 industryyears of remarkablewas established developmentin 1956, since China its has space made industry great was achievements establishedin thisin 1956, sphere, China includinghas made the great development achievementsof atomicin this and sphere, hydrogen including bombs, the missiles, development man-madeof atomic satellites, and hydrogen manned bombs, spaceflight missiles, and manmade lunar satellites,probe. It mannedhas opened spaceflightup a and path lunarof self-relianceprobe. It has and opened independentup a path innovation,of self-reliance and and has independentcreated the innovation,spirit of China’sand has space created industry.the spiritTo of carry China’s forward space this industry. spirit To and carry stimulate forward enthusiasmthis spirit and for stimulate innovation, enthusiasm the Chinese for governmentinnovation, the set ChineseApril 24 governmentas China’s Spaceset April Day 24 in as 2016. China’s Space Day “To in explore2016. the vast cosmos, develop“To explorethe spacethe vast industry cosmos, and develop the build space China industryinto a and space build power Chinais a into dreama spacewe pursue power unremittingly.”is a dream we In pursuethe next unremittingly.”five years and In beyondthe next China five years will and uphold beyond the China conceptswill upholdof innovative, the concepts balanced,of innovative,green, open balanced,and green, shared open development,and shared and development,promote and the comprehensivepromote the comprehensive development of developmentspace science, of space space technologyscience, space and technologyspace applications,and space so applications,as to contribute so as to more contributeto both more servingto both national serving national development developmentand improvingand improvingthe the well-being well-beingof mankind.of mankind.

To To enable enable the the world world community community to to better better understand understand China’s China’s space space industry, industry, we we are are publishing publishing this this white paper white to paper offer to a offer brief a introductionbrief introduction to the major to achievementsthe major achievementsChina has made China in has this made field in since this 2011, field its since main tasks 2011, in its the main next tasks five in years,the nextand its five internationalyears, and its exchanges international and cooperation exchanges efforts. and cooperation efforts.

Preamble

1. Purposes To explore outer space and enhance understanding of the earth and the cosmos; to utilize outer space for peaceful purposes, promote human civilization and social progress, and benefit the whole of mankind; to meet the demands of economic, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress; and to improve the scientific and cultural levels of the Chinese people, protect China’s national rights and interests, and build up its overall strength. 2. Vision To build China into a space power in all respects, with the capabilities to make innovations independently, to make scientific discovery and research at the cutting edge, to promote strong and sustained economic and social development, to effectively and reliably guarantee national security, to exercise sound and efficient governance, and to carry out mutually beneficial international exchanges and cooperation; to have an advanced and open space science and technology industry, stable and reliable space infrastructure, pioneering and innovative professionals, and a rich and profound space spirit; to provide strong support for the realization of the Chinese Dream of the renewal of the Chinese nation, and make positive contributions to human civilization and progress. 3. Principles China’s space industry is subject to and serves the national overall development strategy, and adheres to the principles of innovative, coordinated, peaceful and open development.

• Innovative development. China takes independent innovation as the core of the development of its space industry. It implements major space science and technology projects, strengthens scientific exploration and technological innovation, deepens institutional reforms, and stimulates innovation and creativity, working to promote rapid development of the space industry.

• Coordinated development. China rationally allocates various resources, encourages and guides social forces to take an orderly part in space development. All space activities are coordinated under an overall plan of the state to promote the comprehensive development of space science, space technology and space applications, and to improve the quality and efficiency of overall space development.

• Peaceful development. China always adheres to the principle of the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and opposes the weaponization of or an arms race in outer space. The country develops and utilizes space resources in a prudent manner, takes effective measures to protect the space environment to ensure a peaceful and clean outer space and guarantee that its space activities benefit the whole of mankind.

• Open development. China persists in combining independence and self-reliance with opening to the outside world and international cooperation. It actively engages in international exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization, and inclusive development, striving to promote progress of space industry for mankind as a whole and its long-term sustainable development.

Since 2011 China’s space industry has witnessed rapid progress manifested by markedly enhanced capacity in independent innovation and access to outer space, constant improvement in space infrastructure, smooth implementation of major projects such as manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the BeidouNavigation System and high-resolution earth observation system, and substantial achievements in space science, technology and applications. 1. Space transportation system From 2011 toNovember 2016 the LongMarch carrier rocket series completed 86 launch missions, sending over 100 spacecraft into target orbit with a success rate of 97.67 percent, indication of increasing effectiveness and high-density launching capability of carrier rockets. The LongMarch 5 (CZ-5), China’s newest generation of carrier rockets with a maximum carrying capacity, made its maiden flight, and increased the diameter of liquid fuel rocket from 3.35mto 5m, with a maximum payload capacity of about 25 tons to low earth orbit and about 14 tons to geostationary transfer orbit, significantly improving the carrying capacity of the LongMarch rocket family and becoming a symbol of the upgrading of China’s carrier rockets. The development of the 120-ton liquid oxygen and kerosene engine was test fired, which powered Long March 6 and LongMarch 7 on their maiden flights. The LongMarch 11, a solid-fuel carrier rocket, also made a successful maiden launch, further enriching the LongMarch rocket family. 2. Man-made satellites (1) Earth observation satellites. The function of the Fengyun (Wind and Cloud), Haiyang (Ocean), Ziyuan (Resources), Gaofen (High Resolution), Yaogan (Remote-Sensing) and Tianhui (SpaceMapping) satellite series and constellation of small satellites for environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting has been improved. The Fengyun polar orbit meteorological satellite has succeeded in networking observation by morning and afternoon satellites, while its geostationary earth orbit (GEO) meteorological satellite has formed a business mode of “multi-satellites in orbit, coordinated operation, mutual backup and encryption at the appropriate time.” TheHaiyang-2 satellite is capable of all-weather, full-time and high-accuracy observation of marine dynamic parameters such as sea height, sea wave and sea surface wind. The Ziyuan-1 02C satellite was launched, the Ziyuan-3 01 and 02 stereo mapping satellites have achieved double star networking and operating. The ChinaHigh-resolution Earth Observation System program has been fully implemented; the Gaofen-2 is capable of sub-meter optical remote-sensing observation, the Gaofen-3 has a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging instrument that is accurate to one meter and the Gaofen-4 is China’s first geosynchronous orbit high-resolution earth observation satellite. Satellite C of the environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting small satellite constellation has been put into use. The successful launching of the Kuaizhou-1 and Kuaizhou-2, which adopted integrated design of the satellite and the launch vehicle, has improved China’s emergency response capability in space. The Jilin-1, a high-resolution remote-sensing satellite for commercial use has been launched and put into service.

(2) Communications and broadcasting satellites. China has comprehensively advanced the construction of fixed, mobile and data relay satellite systems. The successful launch of communications satellites such as Yatai and Zhongxing represented the completion of a fixed communications satellite support system whose communications services cover all of China’s territory as well as major areas of the world. The Tiantong-1, China’s first mobile communications satellite, has been successfully launched. The first-generation data relay satellite system composed of three Tianlian-1 satellites has been completed, and high-speed communication test of satellite-ground laser link has been crowned with success. In addition, the development of the DFH-5 super communications satellite platform is going smoothly.

(3) Navigation and positioning satellites. The BeidouNavigation Satellite System (Beidou-2) has been completed, with the networking of 14 Beidou navigation satellites, officially offering positioning, velocity measurement, timing, wide area difference and short-message communication service to customers in the Asia-Pacific region. Beidou’s global satellite navigation system is undergoing smooth construction.

(4) Newtechnological test satellites. China has launched the Shijian-9 satellite series for technological experiments, providing an important way to test newtechnologies. 3. Manned spaceflight In June 2012 and June 2013, the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft were launched to dock with the target spacecraft Tiangong-1. They used manual and automatic operations respectively, symbolizing breakthroughs for China in spacecraft rendezvous and docking technology and full success in its first operation of a manned space transportation system. In September and October 2016 the Tiangong-2 space laboratory and Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft were launched and formed an assembly that operates steadily, with the mission of carrying out science and technology experiments in space, indicating that China has mastered technologies concerning astronauts’ mid-term stay in orbit, and long-term ground mission support. Currently, China has mastered major space technologies such as manned space transportation, space extravehicular activity, space docking, operating in assembly and astronauts’ mid-term stay in orbit. 4. Deep space exploration In December 2012 the Chang’e-2 lunar probe made a successful observation trip over asteroid 4179 (Toutatis). In December 2013 the Chang’e-3 realized the first soft landing on the surface of an extraterrestrial body by a Chinese spacecraft and completed patrol and exploration on the surface of the moon. InNovember 2014 China achieved success in the reentry and return flight test of the third-phase lunar exploration engineering, indicating that China has mastered the key technology of spacecraft reentry and return flight in a speed close to second cosmic velocity.

The Lunar Exploration Program helped mankind to acquire a highresolution map of the moon and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridum, and conducted research of lunar surface morphology, lunar structure, elemental composition of the lunar surface, lunar surface environment, lunar space environment and moonbased astronomical observation. 5. Space launch sites In June 2016 theWenchang Launch Site held its first launch, marking a new-generation launch site designed and built by China. The site is environmentally friendly and made breakthroughs in innovation. Renovations have also been accomplished in the Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang launch sites, forming a launch site network covering both coastal and inland areas, high and low altitudes, and various trajectories to satisfy the launch needs of manned spaceships, space laboratory core modules, deep space probes and all kinds of satellites.

6. Space Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C)

The Tianlian-1 data relay satellite series have achieved global networking and operating. The Yuanwang-7, a spacecraft tracking ship has made its maiden voyage. Deep space TT&C stations have been built and put into use. China is constantly improving its space telemetry, tracking and command setups, and established a multi-functioning TT&C network featuring space, marine and ground integration with a proper scale. The flight control ability of spacecraft has been gradually improved, completing the TT&C missions of the Shenzhou spacecraft series, Tiangong-1 target spacecraft, Chang’e lunar probe series and earth orbit satellites. 7. Space applications (1) Application of earth observation satellites. The ground system and applications of earth observation satellites are improving, the fields and levels in which these satellites are used are expanding and the application benefits are growing. The ground stations receiving data from land, ocean and meteorological observation satellites are operating based on comprehensive planning, a satellite data ground network with the capacity of receiving data from high- and low-orbit satellites and reasonable arrangement at home and abroad. China has also established, based on comprehensive planning, a ground data processing system for earth observation satellites, common application supporting platform, and multi-level network data distribution system, greatly increasing its ability in data processing, archiving, distribution, services provision and quantitative applications. Industrial application system building is in full swing, having completed 18 industrial and two regional application demonstration systems, and set up 26 provincial-level data and application centers. An integrated information service sharing platform for a high-resolution earth observation system has been built. Earth observation satellite data is now widely used in industrial, regional and public services for economic and social development.

(2) Application of communications and broadcasting satellites. The ground facilities such as TT&C station, gateway station, uplink station and calibration field of communications satellites have been improved. A satellite communications network and satellite radio and TV network of adequate scale to meet the needs of certain services have been built, further improving the communications service ability. These applications play an important role in radio and television services, distance education and telemedicine. The emergency satellite communications system has provided important support for the fight against flood and drought, for rescue and relief work, and for handling major emergencies.

(3) Application of navigation and positioning satellites. The Beidou Navigation Satellite System has significantly improved its accuracy and reliability, bringing into play an independent, controllable, complete and mature Beidou industrial chain and the three systems of Beidou industrial guarantee, application promotion and innovation. The BeidouNavigation System is widely used in transportation, maritime fisheries, hydrological monitoring, weather forecasting, surveying and mapping, forest fire prevention, time synchronization of communication, power dispatching, disaster reduction and relief and emergency rescue, influencing all aspects of people’s life and production, and injecting newvitality into global economic and social development.

(4) Transformation and application of space technology. A new business model featuring the Internet plus satellite applications is coming into being, providing more convenient and high-quality services to the public. Secondary development, transformation and applications of space technology make possible the provision of highquality products and services to relevant industries, and help to support and propel the development of newmaterials, intelligent manufacturing and electronic information, among others. 8. Space science (1) Space science satellites. China has successfully launched the Dark Matter Particle Explorer, Shijian-10 and Quantum Science Experiment Satellite, offering important means for frontier scientific research.

(2) Space environment scientific experiments. China has carried out a series of space science experiments using space science satellites, Chang’e lunar probe, Shenzhou spacecraft series and Tiangong-1 target aircraft, deepening the understanding of the mechanism of biological growth and materials preparation under the conditions of space microgravity and intense radiation, and achieving some influential research findings.

(3) Space environment detection and forecast. China has identified the space environment’s major parameters and effects using space science satellites and the Shenzhou spacecraft series to provide space environmental monitoring and forecasting services for the safe operation of spacecraft. 9. Space debris China has improved the monitoring and mitigation of and early warning and protection against space debris. It has also enhanced standards and regulations in this regard. The monitoring of and early warning against space debris have been put into regular operation, ensuring the safe operation of spacecraft in orbit. China has also made breakthroughs in protection design technologies, applying them to the protection projects of spacecraft against space debris. In addition, all LongMarch carrier rockets have upper stage passivation, and discarded spacecraft are moved out of orbit to protect the space environment.

In the next five years China plans to expedite the development of its space endeavors by continuing to enhance the basic capacities of its space industry, strengthen research into key and cutting-edge technologies, and implement manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, highresolution earth observation system, new-generation launch vehicles and other important projects. Furthermore, the country is to launch newkey scientific and technological programs and major projects, complete, by and large, its space infrastructure system, expand its space applications in breadth and depth, and further conduct research into space science, promoting the integrated development of space science, technology and applications. 1. Space transport system We will develop and launch medium-lift launch vehicles which are non-toxic and pollution-free, improve the new-generation launch vehicle family, and enhance their reliability.

Endeavors will be made to research key technologies and further study the plans for developing heavy-lift launch vehicles. Breakthroughs are expected in key technologies for the overall system, highthrust liquid oxygen and kerosene engines, and oxygen and hydrogen engines of such launch vehicles. Thereafter the heavy-lift launch vehicle project will be activated.

China will conduct research into the technologies for low-cost launch vehicles, newupper stage and the reusable space transportation system between the earth and lowearth orbit. 2. Space infrastructure China is to improve its satellite systems and their basic related items, develop the three major satellite systems of remote-sensing, communications and broadcasting, and navigation and positioning, and build a space-ground integrated information network. In this way, a space infrastructure system capable of providing steady and sustained services will take shape, boosting the satellite and related applications industrial sector.

(1) Satellite remote-sensing system. In accordance with the policy guideline for developing multifunctional satellites, and creating networks of satellites and integrating them, we will focus on three series of satellites for observing the land, ocean and atmosphere, respectively. China is to develop and launch satellites capable of highresolution multi-mode optical observation, L-band differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar imaging, carbon monitoring of the territorial ecosystem, atmospheric Lidar detection, ocean salinity detection and new-type ocean color observation. We will take steps to build our capabilities of highly efficient, comprehensive global observation and data acquisition with a rational allocation of low-, medium- and high-spatial resolution technologies, and an optimized combination of multiple observation methods. China will make overall construction and improvement on remote-sensing satellite receiving station networks, calibration and validation fields, data centers, data-sharing platforms and common application supporting platforms to provide remote-sensing satellite data receiving services across the world.

(2) Satellite communications and broadcasting system. This system is oriented toward industrial and market applications, and mainly operates through business models while meeting public welfare needs. China will develop both fixed and mobile communications and broadcasting as well as data relay satellites, build a space-ground integrated information network consisting of spacebased systems such as high-earthorbit broadband satellite systems and low-earth-orbit mobile satellite systems, and ground-based systems such as satellite-access stations. TT&C stations, gateway stations, uplink stations, calibration fields and other satellite ground facilities are to be built synchronously. These efforts are expected to bring about a comprehensive system capable of providing broadband communications, fixed communications, directbroadcast television, mobile communications and mobile multimedia broadcast services. A global satellite communications and broadcasting system integrated with the ground communications network will be established step by step.

(3) Satellite navigation system. China is to continuously enhance the service capacities of the Beidou-2. With sustained efforts in building the Beidou global system, we plan to start providing basic services to countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-CenturyMaritime Silk Road in 2018, form a network consisting of 35 satellites for global services by 2020, and provide all clients with more accurate and more reliable services through advancing the groundbased and satellite-based augmentation systems in an integrated way. 3. Manned spaceflight China plans to launch the Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft to dock with the earth-orbiting Tiangong-2 space laboratory, and research and master key technologies for cargo transport and replenishment to accumulate experience in building and operating a space station.

We aim to complete the main research and development work on the space station modules, and start assembly and operation of the space station.

We strive to acquire key technologies and conduct experiments on such technologies to raise our manned spaceflight capacity, laying a foundation for exploring and developing cislunar space. 4. Deep-space exploration China will continue its lunar exploration project, and strive to attain the automated extraterrestrial sampling and returning technology by space explorers. We plan to fulfill the three strategic steps of “orbiting, landing and returning” for the lunar exploration project by launching the Chang’ e-5 lunar probe by the end of 2017 and realizing regional soft landing, sampling and return. We will launch the Chang’e-4 lunar probe around 2018 to achieve mankind’ s first soft landing on the far side of the moon, and conduct in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point. Through the lunar exploration project, topographic and geological surveys will be implemented and laboratory research conducted on lunar samples; geological survey and research as well as low-frequency radio astronomy observation and research will be carried out targeting the landing area on the far side of the moon for a better understanding of the formation and evolution of the moon.

China China intends intends to to execute execute its its first Marsfirst Mars exploration exploration operation, operation,and graspand graspkey technologieskey technologiesfor orbiting,for landing orbiting, and landing roving and exploration.roving It plans exploration.to launchIt plansthe firstMarsto launch probethe first by Mars2020 to probe carry by out 2020 orbiting andto carry roving out exploration.orbiting andIt will roving conduct exploration.further studiesIt will and conductkey technological further studies research and on key the technological bringing back of samples research fromMars,on the bringingasteroid back exploration,of samples explorationfrom Mars, of the Jupiter asteroid system exploration,and planet explorationfly-by exploration.of the Jupiter When system conditionsand planet allow, fly-by related exploration. projects Whenwill be conditions implemented allow, to related conduct projects research intowill majorbe implementedscientific questionsto conduct such as researchthe origin into and major evolution scientificof the solar questions system, such and as searchthe originfor extraterrestrial and evolution life.of the solar system, and search for extraterrestrial life.