China's Space Station to Launch Over 1,000 Research Projects in Next 10-15 Years

The Chinese space station is poised to undertake an extensive array of over 1,000 research projects in the coming 10 to 15 years, as highlighted by the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Recognized as the national space laboratory, it addresses a wide spectrum of space science fields and leverages the unique advantages of human involvement and transport, with the intention of maintaining stable orbital operations for upwards of a decade.

As it embarks on these research projects, the space station aims for substantial advancements in pivotal fields and hopes to establish itself as a leader in global scientific inquiry. The focus will include developing a systematized understanding and yielding significant results in applied sciences and novel technologies, aimed at meeting major national priorities.

In a recent press briefing, the center shared insights on the station's scientific research achievements, emphasizing its role as a critical platform for tackling significant scientific and application challenges through sustained access to microgravity, cosmic radiation, and other unique environmental conditions. The combination of long-term astronaut involvement and efficient transportation between Earth and the station facilitates groundbreaking experiments particularly relevant to new space technologies.

space life sciences and human research, microgravity physical sciences, space astronomy and terrestrial studies, and innovative technologies. The station is outfitted with over 20 scientific experiment chambers and three platforms for external exposure experiments that meet international standards across diverse scientific domains.

Additionally, the station is in the process of developing a competitive 2-meter aperture survey telescope (CSST) as part of its major research facilities. So far, it has successfully executed over 180 science and application missions in orbit, delivering nearly two tons of scientific materials, including experimental units and samples. The station has also returned approximately 100 types of space science experiment samples, compiling more than 265 terabytes of data.

Moreover, research teams from various disciplines within the project are actively investigating numerous scientific challenges. Their efforts have led to the production of over 500 high-quality research papers and the granting of more than 150 patents. This innovative work has also facilitated the transfer and application of certain findings, significantly propelling the advancement of China’s space science and related applications.