Article

China’s Space Science Satellite Series—A Review and Future Perspective

National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences

^* To whom correspondence may be addressed at wc@nssc.ac.cn

Abstract

The National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NSSC, CAS), as the leading institute responsible for the overall management of scientific satellite missions in China, is China’s gateway to space science. NSSC is the cradle of China’s first artificial satellite “Dongfanghong-1” (DFH-1). In the course of more than 60 years’ development, NSSC has led the implementation of “Double Star Program”, the first science-driven space mission in China, and successively implemented a fleet of scientific missions under the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science (Phase I and II), such as the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE, or Wukong), the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS, or Micius), the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT, or Insight), the Taiji-1, the Advanced space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S, or Kuafu) and the Einstein Probe (EP). Currently, the space science satellite series has been established, yielding substantial scientific output. For the future, the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a China-ESA joint mission, will be launched in 2025. In addition, the newly released National Mid- and Long-term Program for Space Science Development in China (2024–2050), the first of its kind at the national level, has identified five key scientific themes. A fleet of future scientific missions revolving these themes will deepen mankind’s scientific understanding of the universe.