Space Science & Technology in China: A Roadmap to 2050

　　Space science, applications and technology are crucially important strategic fields for China. Space science, serving as the driving force of space applications and technology, can not only enrich human’s knowledge, but also foster the development of high technologies, in particular space technology. The utilization of earth observation is an important part of space applications that maintains a strong connection with human society, noting that it offers fundamental means for sustaining a stable coexistence between man and nature as well as improving the quality of human life. On the other hand, space technology provides strong support for the achievement of the goals of space science and applications. In a word, space science, applications and technology advance forward in mutually beneficial ways, as witnessed in the last few decades.

　　In the first half of the 21st century, China will confront several severe problems: 1) How to take the responsibilities of being a big power and make significant contributions to human civilization. 2) How to promote the development of its high technologies so as to assume a leading role for China in the field of technology. 3) How to effectively protect the environment and improve the quality of life. 4) How to promote China’s development in a sustainable way, etc. Space science, applications and technology will offer numerous effective and irreplaceable solutions to the aforementioned problems, which may impede the modernization and development of China.

　　Guided by the national goal of “becoming a generally modernized and moderately developed country by the mid 21st century”, the current report deals with the severe problems that will face China in the future and the significance of space science, applications and technology in the national strategy of development. It investigates the trends of space science, applications and technology in the world and the space strategies of other countries, analyzes the status of China’s space development, and in the end suggests the vision, goals and roadmaps for China’s space science, applications and technology to 2050. In this report, a particular emphasis is put on space science, earth observation, digital earth, and related space technologies. 

　　The vision of China’s space science, applications and technology to 2050 is as follows:

　　To radically elevate the status of space science, applications and technology in the nation’s development, in the course of following the national demands and key scientific and technological questions, such that by 2050 they may play key roles in national development, being able to provide effective and irreplaceable solutions to the major problems facing the nation.

　　The strategic goals for space science, applications and technology to 2050 are as follows:

　　Strategic Goal 1 (Strategic goal of space science):

　　Exploration and research should be conducted on cutting-edge and unsolved scientific questions as well as the basic scientific questions. Original breakthroughs should be made in directly detecting black holes, dark matter, dark energy and gravitational waves, studying the origin and evolution of the solar system and the influence of solar activities on earth environment as well as its forecasting, and exploring life elsewhere. It is expected that space science research in China will be fully improved to the point such that China, with some remarkable scientific achievements, can make decisive contributions to human civilization.

　　By performing scientific research towards Strategic Goal 1, some significant progress is expected in answering the following scientific questions:

　　1) How did the universe originate and evolve?

　　2) How did life originate and how does it continue to evolve? What’s the survival behavior of life including man in outer space?

　　3) How do the sun and solar system affect the earth, thus in turn the survival and development of human society?

　　4) Are there any laws beyond the existing fundamental physical theories to be discovered?

　　5) What are the laws of motion for matter in space?

　　Strategic Goal 2 (Strategic goal of space applications)

　　Regarding the construction of earth observation infrastructure, Digital Earth Scientific Platform and Earth System Simulation Network Platform, the spatial data will be comprehensively applied to the modeling and forecasting of climate change, water circulation and water-safety related problems, carbon circulation, and ecological-environmental change, land-cover change and sudden and unexpected natural disasters, as well as to searching for new sources of energy and natural resources. The capability of the country to utilize space technology to support its development should be fostered to a whole new level, thus to turn China into a more competitive nation in space applications. Breakthroughs are expected in the fields concerning the handling of energy and resource shortages, ecological deterioration and serious natural disasters.

　　The following questions are expected to be answered in accordance with Strategic Goal 2:

　　1) How do global environmental changes affect China?

　　2) What are the major driving factors for the regional changes in China, and what are the possible response mechanisms?

　　3) What are the typical spatial and temporal scales and the governing laws for the impact of environmental change?

　　4) How to improve the ability for the detection, simulation and prediction of such global changes?

　　5) How to apply spatial data to the survey of resources?

　　Strategic Goal 3 (Strategic goal of space technology)

　　The fundamental goal of space technology is to provide strong technical support for space science and applications. Towards this end, China has to make appreciable advancements in developing ultra-high resolution observation, ultra-high precision spatial and time standards, light-weight and miniature spacecrafts and payloads, near-space vehicles, ultra-high speed flight in deep space and autonomous navigation, and permanent human residence in space, etc.

　　Priority should be put on the development of key technologies that otherwise may impede the progress of China’s space science and applications, aiming at attaining the capability to support China’s future space activities, and to promote the development of relevant high technologies.

　　Since the beginning of the 21st century, more and more countries have been involved in space exploration, regarded as one of the main thrusts for the nation’s science, technology, economy and society. China also strives to play an important role in this field, so as to be able to take the responsibility in making contributions to human civilization, in improving the quality of human life, and in protecting earth environment, and so forth, through which China can be more competitive in the world, particularly in science and technology, and accomplish the Great Rejuvenation.