Strategic Study on the Development of Space Science in China and Proposals for Future Missions

Since 2011, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has implemented the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science (SPP). A series of scientific satellites have been developed and launched, such as Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), Einstein Probe (EP), and significant scientific outcomes have been achieved. In order to plan the future space science missions in China, CAS has organized the Chinese space science community to conduct medium and long-term development strategy studies, and summarized the major scientific frontiers of space science as “One Black, Two Dark, Three Origins and Five Characterizations”. Five main scientific themes have been identified for China’s future breakthroughs, including the Extreme Universe, Space-Time Ripples, the Panoramic View of the Sun and Earth, the Habitable Planets, and Biological & Physical Science in Space. Space science satellite missions to be implemented before 2030 are proposed accordingly.