Mars sample return, Jupiter galaxy exploration! This white paper reveals how China's aerospace future will go

The Information Office of the State Council released the "2021 China Aerospace" white paper on the 28th, which is China's fifth space white paper. The white paper introduces the main progress of China's space activities since 2016 and the main tasks in the next five years.

The white paper mentions that since 2016, as of December 2021, China Aerospace has completed a total of 207 launch missions, of which the Long March series of carrier rocket launches have completed a total of 183 times, and the total number of launches has exceeded 400. In the next five years, China will continue to improve the comprehensive performance of its space transport system and accelerate the upgrading of carrier rockets. Promote the development of the carrier rocket type spectrum, develop and launch a new generation of manned carrier rockets and high-thrust solid carrier rockets, and accelerate the development of heavy carrier rocket projects. Continue to carry out key technologies for reuse of space transportation systems and demonstrate and verify them. In view of the needs of flight launches, we will develop new rocket engines, combined power, upper stages and other technologies, and expand diversified and convenient access to space capabilities.

In the field of manned spaceflight, the white paper said that in the next five years, China will continue to implement manned spaceflight projects, launch the "Qingtian" experimental module, the "Dream Sky" experimental module, the "Sky Survey" space telescope, as well as the "Shenzhou" manned spacecraft and the "Tianzhou" cargo spacecraft, fully build and operate the Chinese space station, build a national space laboratory, and carry out long-term astronaut stays, large-scale space science experiments, space station platform maintenance and other work. Deepen the demonstration of the manned lunar landing plan, organize the development of key technical research, develop a new generation of manned spacecraft, and consolidate the foundation for manned exploration and development of the Earth-Moon space.

At the same time, China will continue to implement lunar exploration projects. In the next five years, China will launch the "Chang'e-6" probe, complete the sampling return of the lunar polar region, launch the "Chang'e-7" probe, complete the high-precision landing of the lunar polar region and the leap detection of the shadow crater, complete the key technology research of the "Chang'e-8" mission, and jointly carry out the construction of the international lunar research station with relevant countries, international organizations and international partners. Continue to implement planetary exploration projects, launch asteroid probes, complete near-Earth asteroid sampling and main-belt comet exploration, and complete key technologies such as Mars sample return and Jupiter exploration. Demonstrate implementation plans such as marginal exploration of the solar system.

It is reported that the white paper is divided into three parts, with a full text of about 13,000 words. The main text includes six parts, namely: to start a new journey of comprehensively building a space power, to develop space technology and systems, to cultivate and expand the space application industry, to carry out space science exploration and research, to promote the modernization of space governance, and to build a new pattern of international cooperation in space.