Issue 40

28 Jan 2022: China released a new white paper outlining the centrality of space to the country’s “overall national strategy” as well as major plans for the years ahead. The whitepaper highlighted China’s goals to develop its space transportation capabilities, test new technologies, embark on exploration missions, modernize space governance, enhance innovation and boost international cooperation. See Full Text or watch the (translated) Press Conference.

– The quinquennial white paper document, titled “China’s Space Program: A 2021 Perspective,” was released 28 Jan by the State Council Information Office.

– It notes that the global space industry has entered a “new stage of rapid development and profound transformation,” and outlines activities planned to meet new challenges & build new capabilities.

– Exploration goals for the next five years include the launch of the Chang’e-6 lunar sample-return and the complex Chang’e-7 missions, both to the moon’s south pole. The Chinese are also planing joint asteroid sample-return, comet rendezvous mission, research and development on key technology for the Chang’e-8 lunar base precursor mission, and completing key technological research on Mars sample-return and Jupiter missions.

– Space transportation plans include new-generation crew launch vehicles, high-thrust solid-fuel rockets, and accelerating development of heavy-lift launchers. Research priorities include key technologies for reusable space transport systems, developing new rocket engines, combined cycle propulsion (related to spaceplane projects), and upper stage technologies.

– China aims to strengthen space traffic management; improve its space debris monitoring system, cataloging database and early warning services; conduct in-orbit maintenance of spacecraft; test mission extension vehicles; and undertake space debris mitigation.

– Research into navigation-communications integration, low-orbit augmentation and other key technologies for the “next-generation Beidou” system will also be conducted.

– There is no mention of China’s space-related military capabilities and objectives…strategic initiatives like the Belt and Road are noted a number of times in the text.

– In the next five years China plans on-orbit tests of new space materials, smart self-management of spacecraft, mission extension vehicles, innovative space propulsion, in-orbit servicing, and studying plans for building a near-earth object defense system.

China’s space ambitions far exceed any other space faring nation in range and long-term strategy. This includes incrementally developing space capacity in sequence. First, build space capacity for cost effective launch and access. Second, launch its own permanent space station. Third, create capacity to dominate cislunar space. Fourth – once cislunar is secured – develop the capacity for sustainable presence on the Moon, including in-space manufacturing and mature space-based solar power (SBSP) technology to fuel its lunar base and sustain human presence. Finally, develop capacity for deep space exploration and resource extraction from asteroids.