Introduction

China space industry has developed fast since it was established in 1956. Over the past 60 years, achievements include the development of atomic and hydrogen bombs, missiles, man-made satellites, and a lunar probe. China has also achieved manned spaceflight. China is unflinching in pursuing the road of peaceful development, while maintaining that outer space is the common wealth of mankind. While supporting all activities that utilize outer space for peaceful purposes, China actively explores and uses outer space and continuously makes new contributions to the development of manned space programs (The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 2006).

China has contributed largely to some of the world’s most advanced technologies in many important fields, including satellite recovery, multi-satellite launch, Cryogenic fuel rocket technology, cluster carrier rocket technology and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite launch, telemetry, and Tracking and Command (TT&C). China has also made significant achievements in the development and application of remote sensing satellites, communication satellites, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 2000). Space science, technologies, and applications have achieved fruitful results.

China’s Space Safety and Security Policy

Space is the commanding point of international strategic competition. The weaponization of space emerged as a result of the development of space forces and means by some countries (The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 2015).

China’s policy advocates for the peaceful use of space and against the weaponization of space and the arms race in space. As such China is actively participating in international space cooperation. Closely following the space situation, the country monitors the threats and challenges of space security, while it safeguards the security of space assets, serves national economic construction and social development, and maintains space security.

China takes a defensive posture in the frame of its national defense policy, and its development does not pose a threat to any country. No matter how far China develops, it will never seek hegemony. The purpose of China’s space development is to explore outer space and enhance the understanding of the Earth and the cosmos; to utilize outer space for peaceful purposes, promote human civilization and social progress, and benefit the whole of mankind; to meet the demands of economic, scientific, and technological development, national security, and social progress; and to improve the scientific and cultural levels of the Chinese people, protect China’s national rights and interests, and build up its overall strength. (The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 2016).

According to its policy, China’s space industry is subject to and serves the national overall development strategy and adheres to the principles of innovative, coordinated, peaceful, and open development.

  1. 1.

    Innovative development. China takes independent innovation as the core of the development of its space industry. It implements major space science and technology projects, strengthens scientific exploration and technological innovation, deepens institutional reforms, and stimulates innovation and creativity, working to promote rapid development of the space industry.

  2. 2.

    Coordinated development. China rationally allocates various resources and encourages and guides social forces to take an orderly part in space development. All space activities are coordinated under an overall plan of the state to promote the comprehensive development of space science, space technology, and space applications and to improve the quality and efficiency of overall space development.

  3. 3.

    Peaceful development. China always adheres to the principle of the use of outer space for peaceful purposes and opposes the weaponization of outer space or an arms race in outer space. The country develops and utilizes space resources in a prudent manner and takes effective measures to protect the space environment to ensure a peaceful and clean outer space and guarantee that its space activities benefit the whole of mankind.

  4. 4.

    Open development. China persists in combining independence and self-reliance with opening to the outside world and international cooperation. It actively engages in international exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization, and inclusive development, striving to promote progress of space industry for mankind as a whole and its long-term sustainable development.

Since 2000, the Information Office of the State Council has published a space white paper every 5 years. So far, four space white papers have been published. The latest one was issued in 2016. The white papers offer a brief introduction about China’s space development objectives, vision and principles, recent space progress, future space plans, development policies and measures, and international exchanges and cooperation.

Analysis of China’s Capabilities in Space Safety and Security

Earth Observation (EO)

On April 24, 1970, China successfully developed and launched the first man-made Earth-orbiting satellite, Dongfanghong-1, and became the fifth country in the world to independently develop and launch man-made satellites. China is the third country in the world to master satellite recovery technology. The success rate of satellite recovery has reached the international advanced level. The use of the Fengyun (wind and cloud), Haiyang (ocean), Ziyuan (resources), Gaofen (high-resolution), Yaogan (remote sensing), and Tianhui (space mapping) satellite series and constellation of small satellites for environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting has been improved. (The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 2016).

Fengyun Satellite Series

As early as the 1970s, China began to develop its meteorological satellites. Since then, 17 meteorological satellites have been launched. China is the third country after the United States and Russia to have polar orbiting meteorological satellites and geostationary Earth-orbit meteorological satellites at the same time (National Satellite Meteorological Center 2019).

Under the coordination and management of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), all countries in the world have achieved the goal of exchanging meteorological observation data and acquiring global meteorological observation data. The Global Operational Meteorological Satellite Detection System (GOMSS) is a space-based detection system built through the joint efforts of countries launching and operating meteorological satellites under the coordination of WMO. China’s operational meteorological satellites Fengyun-3, Fengyun-2, and Fengyun-4A have become important members of the global operational meteorological satellite detection system. They supplement each other in coverage and resolution and help China acquire global information and monitor regional disastrous weather and environmental and meteorological services, as well as Earth sciences.

Ocean Satellite Series

The first “Ocean” dynamic and environmental environment sensing satellite was launched in August 2011 (The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 2011). It has the capability of all-weather and full-time observation in microwave region. The Haiyang-2 satellite is capable of all-weather, full-time, and high-accuracy observation of marine dynamic parameters such as sea height, sea wave, and sea surface wind. (The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China 2016).

China is developing three ocean monitoring satellites: color environment satellite (HY-1), ocean power ocean dynamic environment satellite (HY-2), and ocean radar satellite (HY-3). The system will realize product diversification, data standardization, application quantification, and operational operation and will meet increasing global requirements for ocean surveillance and monitoring. It also provides strong technical support for the implementation of marine development strategies. The system effectively implements marine environment and resources monitoring and provides services for the protection of marine rights and interests, disaster prevention and mitigation, and national economic construction by improving the accuracy and timeliness of marine environment forecasting and marine disaster early warning, (National Satellite Oceanic Application Center 2012).

Ziyuan Satellite Series

China has successively launched Ziyuan-1, Ziyuan-2, and Ziyuan-3. Until now, Ziyuan-3 01 and 02 stereo mapping satellites have achieved double star networking and operating. ZY-3 01 is the first high-resolution optical transmission stereo mapping satellite in China. It was successfully launched on January 9, 2012. It integrates mapping and resource investigation functions. ZY-3 02 was successfully launched on May 30, 2016. It is a high-resolution stereo mapping operational satellite. It is optimized on the basis of ZY-3 01 and carries payloads such as a three-line array mapping camera and a multispectral camera. The resolution of front and rear viewing cameras is improved from 3.5 m to better than 2.5 m. It also carries a set of experimental laser altimetry payload. The performance achieved is better than the ZY-3 01 satellite in image fusion ability and elevation measurement accuracy (Land Satellite Remote Sensing Application Center 2019).

Gaofen Satellite Series

China is building a high-resolution Earth observation system-of-system based on satellite imagery and stratospheric airships and aircraft, improving the corresponding ground systems and establishing data and application centers. Combined with other observation means, the system will form an all-weather, all-time, and global coverage Earth observation capability. By 2020, an advanced terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceanic Earth observation system will be built to provide services and assist in decision making processes for important fields such as modern agriculture, disaster reduction, resources and environment, and public safety.

The first Gaofen-1 satellite was launched on April 26, 2013. It combines high resolution and wide swath width, with a designated life span of 5–8 years (China National Space Administration 2019). The satellite is widely used in the fields of land and resources, environmental protection, precision agriculture, disaster prevention, and mitigation. Gaofen-2 achieves submeter optical remote sensing. Gaofen-3 is a SAR satellite and achieves 1 meter resolution. Gaofen-4 is China’s first GEO high-resolution Earth observation satellite.

Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Forecasting Small Satellite Constellation

The HJ-1A/B/C environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting small satellite constellation includes two optical satellites, HJ-1A/B and one radar satellite HJ-1C, which can carry out large-scale, all-weather, and 24 h dynamic monitoring for ecological environment and disaster. These satellites are equipped with four remote sensors such as wide-coverage CCD scanner, infrared multispectral scanner, hyperspectral imager, and synthetic aperture radar, comprising a more complete Earth observation remote sensing series characterized by high and medium space resolution, high time resolution, high spectrum resolution, and wide coverage (China Centre for Resources Satellite Data and Application 2019).

Commercial Earth Observation

In 2015, the first satellite of China’s first commercial remote sensing constellation, Jilin-1, was launched. In early 2018, four satellites of Gaojing-1 formed the first commercial remote sensing constellation with 0.5-meter resolution in China.

China established a ground data processing system for Earth observation satellites, common application supporting platform, and multilevel network data distribution system. Such capabilities greatly enhance China’s abilities in data processing, archiving, distribution, services provision, and quantitative applications. Industrial application system-building is in full swing, having completed 18 industrial and two regional application demonstration systems, and set up 26 provincial-level data and application centers. An integrated information service sharing platform for a high-resolution Earth observation system has been built. Earth observation satellite data is now widely used in industrial, regional, and public services for economic and social development.

In the future, in accordance with the policy guideline for developing multi-functional satellites, and creating networks of satellites and integrating them, China will focus on three series of satellites for observing the land, ocean, and atmosphere, respectively. China is to develop and launch satellites capable of high-resolution multi-mode optical observation, L-band differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar imaging, carbon monitoring of the territorial ecosystem, atmospheric Lidar detection, ocean salinity detection, and new-type ocean color observation. China will take steps to build highly efficient capabilities of its own, comprehensive global observation and data acquisition with a rational allocation of low-, medium- and high-spatial resolution technologies and an optimized combination of multiple observation methods.

Communication Satellites

China is the fifth country in the world to independently develop and launch GEO communication satellites. Currently, China’s aerospace industry has mastered key technologies in public platform of large-capacity GEO satellites, space-based data relay, and TT&T. The performance of satellites has been significantly improved, and the level of voice, data and radio, television communication, and broadcasting has been further improved. The successful launch of communications satellites such as Yatai and Zhongxing represent the completion of a fixed communications satellite support system whose communications services cover all of China’s territory as well as major areas of the world. The successful launch and stable operations of the Zhongxing 10 satellite have greatly increased the power and capacity of China Telecom and Broadcasting Satellite. The Tiantong-1, China’s first mobile communications satellite, has been successfully launched. The first-generation data relay satellite system composed of three Tianlian-1 satellites has been completed, and high-speed communication test of satellite-ground laser link has been crowned with success. The Shijian-13 satellite launched in 2017 will realize the broadband application of autonomous communication satellites and promote the development of China’s satellite communication industry. The Ka-band multi-beam broadband communication system on this satellite is the first application in domestic communication satellite. It can support multiuser and large capacity bidirectional using and download data at high speed through this satellite while supporting a large number of users to upload data at high speed in vast areas. The satellite breaks through a series of technical problems such as Ka multi-beam broadband system design, antenna reflector profile accuracy control and measurement, antenna pointing accuracy calibration, and so on. The related technology has reached the international advanced technology level (XINHUANET 2019).

By the end of 2016, China has developed three generations of Dongfanghong series communication satellite platform. Dongfanghong-4 platform is the main platform in service. The fourth generation Dongfanghong-5 super-large capacity platform is being developed.

Since the mid-1980s, China has developed satellite communication technology by using domestic and foreign communication satellites to meet the growing needs of communication, broadcasting, and education. For fixed satellite communication services, dozens of large and medium satellite communication Earth stations have been built throughout the country, with more than 27,000 international satellite communication lines connecting more than 180 countries and regions in the world. China has built a domestic satellite public communication network, with more than 70,000 domestic satellite communication telephone routes, and initially solved the communication problems in remote areas. Very small aperture terminal (VSAT) communication business has developed rapidly in recent years. There are 30 domestic VSAT communication business units serving 15,000 small station users, including more than 6,300 bidirectional small station users. At the same time, more than 80 special communication networks of finance, meteorology, transportation, petroleum, water conservancy, civil aviation, power, health, and journalism departments have been established, including tens of thousands VSAT. For satellite television broadcasting business, China has built a satellite television broadcasting system covering the whole world and a satellite television education system covering the whole country. Since 1985, China has used satellite to transmit radio and television programs. At present, it has formed a satellite transmission coverage network, which occupies 33 communication satellite transponders. It is responsible for transmitting 47 sets of central and local TV programs and educational TV programs, as well as 32 channels of internal and external broadcasting programs and nearly 40 sets of local broadcasting programs. Over the past 10 years since the launch of satellite education television broadcasting, more than 30 million people have received education and training in colleges and secondary schools. In recent years, the nation has built a satellite live broadcasting test platform, which transmits satellite TV programs from central and local governments to vast rural areas that are not covered by radio and television through digital compression, thus greatly improving the coverage of radio and television in China. There are about 189,000 satellite TV broadcasting stations in China. On the satellite live broadcasting test platform, a broadband multimedia transmission network of China’s educational satellite has been established to provide comprehensive services of distance education and information technology for the whole country.

In the future, China will be oriented toward industrial and market applications and mainly operates through business models while meeting public welfare needs. China will develop both fixed and mobile communications and broadcasting as well as data relay satellites and build a space-ground integrated information network consisting of space-based systems such as high-Earth-orbit broadband satellite systems and low-Earth-orbit mobile satellite systems and ground-based systems such as satellite-access stations. TT&C stations, gateway stations, uplink stations, calibration fields, and other satellite ground facilities are to be built synchronously. These efforts are expected to bring about a comprehensive system capable of providing broadband communications, fixed communications, direct-broadcast television, mobile communications, and mobile multimedia broadcast services. A global satellite communications and broadcasting system integrated with the ground communications network will be established step-by-step.

Satellite Positioning, Navigation, and Timing System

Satellite navigation system is an indispensable information infrastructure for national security and economic and social development. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been independently constructed and operated by China with an eye to the needs of the country’s national security and economic and social development. As a space infrastructure of national significance, BDS provides all-time, all-weather, and high-accuracy positioning, navigation, and timing services to global users (China Satellite Navigation Office 2018).

China attaches great importance to the BDS construction and development. In 2013, “the Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for the National Satellite Navigation Industry” was released, to make overall arrangement for medium and long-term satellite navigation industrial development and to provide the guidance of macro polices. In 2016, “China’s BeiDou Satellite Navigation System,” a governmental white paper, was released, to introduce the BDS development methods and policies.

Navigation satellite systems are public resources shared by the whole globe, while the multi-system compatibility and interoperability have become a trend. China has been applying the principle that “BDS is developed by China, and dedicated to the world,” serving the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and actively pushing forward international cooperation related to BDS. As BDS joins hands with other navigation satellite systems, China works with all other countries, regions, and international organizations to promote global satellite navigation development and make BDS further serve the world and benefit mankind.

BDS possesses the following characteristics: first, its space segment is a hybrid constellation consisting of satellites in three kinds of orbits. In comparison with other navigation satellite systems, BDS operates more satellites in high orbits to offer better anti-shielding capabilities, which is particularly observable in terms of performance in the low-latitude areas. Second, BDS provides multi-frequency navigation signals with which can be combined to improve service accuracy. Third, BDS integrates navigation and communication capabilities and has multiple service functions including real-time navigation, rapid positioning, precise timing, location reporting, and short message communication services.

BDS is mainly comprised of three segments: a space segment, a ground segment, and a user segment. The BDS space segment is a hybrid navigation constellation consisting of geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), inclined geosynchronous satellite orbit (IGSO), and medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites. The BDS ground segment consists of various ground stations, including master control stations, time synchronization/uplink stations, monitoring stations, as well as operation and management facilities of the inter-satellite links. The BDS user segment consists of various kinds of basic BDS products, including chips, modules, and antennae as well as the BDS terminals, application systems, and application services, which are compatible with other systems. Relevant products of BDS have been widely used in transportation, marine fisheries, hydrological monitoring, meteorological forecasting, surveying and mapping geographic information, forest fire prevention, communication time unification, electric power dispatch, disaster relief and mitigation, emergency rescue, and other fields.

In the late twentieth century, China started to explore a path to develop a navigation satellite system suitable for its national conditions, and gradually formulated a three-step development strategy. The first step is to construct BDS-1. The project started in 1994 and was ready to operate in 2000, with the launch of two GEO satellites. With an active-positioning scheme, the system provided users in China with positioning, timing, wide area differential, and short message communication services. The third GEO satellite was launched in 2003, which further enhanced the system performance. The second step is to construct BDS-2. The project started in 2004, and by the end of 2012, a total of 14 satellites, including5 GEO satellites, 5 IGSO satellites, and 4 MEO satellites, had been launched to complete the space constellation deployment. Besides a technical scheme which was compatible with BDS-1, BDS-2 added the passive-positioning scheme and provided users in the Asia-Pacific region with positioning, velocity measurement, and timing as well as short message communication services. The third step is to construct BDS-3. The project started in 2009, and by the end of 2018, a total of 19 satellites were launched to complete a preliminary system for global services. It is planned to comprehensively complete the deployment of BDS-3 with the launching of 30 satellites by around 2020. BDS-3 has inherited the technical schemes of both active and passive services, and can provide basic navigation (including positioning, velocity measurement and timing), global short message communication, and international search and rescue services to global users. Users in China and surrounding areas can also enjoy regional short message communication, satellite-based augmentation, and precise point positioning services, etc.

Until now, the construction BeiDou-2 system has been completed, with the networking of 14 BeiDou navigation satellites, officially offering positioning, velocity measurement, timing, wide area difference, and short-message communication service to customers in the Asia-Pacific region. BeiDou’s global satellite navigation system is undergoing smooth construction. By the end of 2018, a total of 19 satellites were launched to complete a preliminary system for global services. Around 2020, the BDS-3 will be deployed with the launching and networking of 30 satellites.

In the future, BDS will continue to improve the service performance, to expand the service functions, and to enhance continuous and stable operation capability. Before the end of 2020, BDS-2 will launch 1 backup GEO satellite; BDS-3 will launch another 6 MEO, 3 IGSO, and 2 GEO satellites, to further improve the global basic navigation and regional short message communication service capabilities, and to realize the global short message communication, satellite-based augmentation, international search and rescue, and precise point positioning service capabilities, etc.

Space Situation Awareness

China advocates strengthening international space communication and cooperation and promoting inclusive development based on equality and mutual benefit, peaceful use, and common development. In order to achieve the goal of peaceful development and utilization of outer space and effectively safeguard space security, China will, on the basis of adhering to the principle of peaceful development and utilization of outer space and in full cooperation with the international community, especially developing countries, continue its opposition to the weaponization of outer space and the arms race in outer space, strive for the equal exploitation and peaceful use of outer space resources, and promote the establishment of a new international space order. It will make greater contributions to promoting economic development and social progress, safeguarding space security and world peace.

Space debris is the waste abandoned in space by human beings in space activities, also known as “space garbage.” It mainly includes abandoned spacecraft and launch vehicle rockets, solid rocket burners, debris generated by spacecraft on-orbit operation and collision disintegration, etc. At present, there are hundreds of millions of space debris above the millimeter level, with a total mass of several thousand tons. The average impact velocity of space debris is 10 km per second. Space debris above centimeter level can lead to complete damage of spacecraft, while the cumulative impact effect of millimeter or micron level space debris will lead to performance degradation or function failure of spacecraft. According to statistics, China’s on-orbit spacecraft has reached more than 270, with an average of more than 30 close-range dangerous rendezvous with space debris within 100 m per year. In addition, many space debris return to the atmosphere every year. These frequent meteoric events have posed a serious threat to the safety of ground personnel and property.

Space debris poses the greatest threat to space activities; thus, China will continue to strengthen space debris monitoring, mitigation, and spacecraft protection. China will develop technologies for monitoring space debris and pre-warning of collision and begin monitoring space debris and small near-Earth celestial bodies and collision pre-warning work. It will set up a design and assess system of space debris mitigation and take measures to reduce space debris left by post-task spacecraft and launch vehicles. It will experiment with digital simulation of space debris collisions and build a system to protect spacecraft from space debris.

In December 2008, the Key Laboratory of Space Object and Debris Observation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was officially unveiled at the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) in Nanjing (Key Laboratory of Space Object and Debris Observation 2019). The laboratory set up a safety and early warning system for China in the field of space, in order to eliminate the threat posed by various human debris scattered in the vast space and protect the safety of space. The Key Laboratory of Space Object and Debris Observation will further make significant achievements in space target motion theory, space target and debris detection, spacecraft collision warning, upper atmosphere model, and so on. The laboratory will closely monitor space debris to reduce potential safety threat in space flight and detection. For the space debris discovered, the laboratory will track it in real time, search for the space garbage that has not yet been found, study the early warning technology for spacecraft launching and orbital operation, and then carry out risk assessment to resolve potential dangers.

At present, PMO has six outdoor observation stations: Qinhai Delinha Radio Observation Station, Jiangsu Xuyi Celestial Mechanics Observation Station, Jiangsu Ganyu Solar Observing Station, Heilongjiang Honghe Observation Station, Shandong Qingdao Observation Station, and Yunnan Yaoan Observation Station. Among them, Delinha Observation Station is the largest radio astronomical observation base in China. It has 13.7 m millimeter wave radio astronomical telescope, mobile submillimeter wave telescope, space debris detection optoelectronic telescope, and other large astronomical observation equipment. Xuyi Observation Station is the only celestial mechanics measurement base in China. It has the largest 1 m/1.2 m NEO detection telescope and space debris detection optoelectronic telescope in China (PMO 2019).

In June 8, 2015, the CNSA Space Debris Observation and Data Application Center was built relying on NAOC and is the technical support and daily operating organization of space debris affairs of CNSA. The establishment of the center is of great significance for promoting the development of space debris technology in China, enhancing the capacity of space debris management and service, ensuring the safety of spacecraft in orbit, supporting international space exchange and cooperation, and safeguarding the rights and interests of China’s space development.

China has improved the monitoring and mitigation of early warning and protection against space debris and also enhanced standards and regulations in this regard. The monitoring of early warning against space debris has been put into regular operation, ensuring the safe operation of spacecraft in orbit. China has also made breakthroughs in protection design technologies, applying them to the protection projects of spacecraft against space debris. In addition, all Long March carrier rockets have upper stage passivation, and discarded spacecraft are moved out of orbit to protect the space environment. In the future, the standards and norms for space debris, near-Earth small objects, and space weather will be improved. In addition to this, China will establish and improve the basic database and shared data model of space debris; comprehensively promote the construction of space debris monitoring facilities, early warning, and emergency platform and network service system, strengthen the comprehensive utilization of resources; and further strengthen the spacecraft protection capability. China will improve the space environment monitoring system, build an early warning and forecasting platform, and enhance the space environment monitoring and disaster early warning capabilities. This chapter demonstrates the construction of monitoring facilities for small near-Earth objects and the improvement of their monitoring and cataloging capabilities.

International Exchanges and Cooperation on China’s Space Safety and Security

The Chinese Government believes that international space cooperation should follow the basic principles set in the Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interests of All States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries, adopted by the 51st United Nations General Assembly in 1996. In carrying out international space cooperation, the Chinese Government has consistently adhered to the following guiding principles:

  • International space cooperation should aim at the peaceful development and utilization of space resources for the benefit of all mankind.

  • International space cooperation should be carried out on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, complementarity of advantages, complementarity of strengths and weaknesses, common development and recognized principles of international law.

  • The priority objective of international space cooperation is to jointly improve the space capabilities of all countries, especially developing countries, and to enjoy the benefits of space technology.

  • International space cooperation should take necessary measures to protect the space environment and resources.

  • Support the strengthening of the role of the United Nations Committee on Outer Space and support the United Nations Programme on Outer Space Applications.

China’s international cooperation in space began in the mid-1970s. Since 2011, the Government signed 43 space cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding with 29 countries, space agencies, and international organizations. It has taken part in relevant activities sponsored by the United Nations and other relevant international organizations, and supported international commercial cooperation in space. These measures have yielded fruitful results.

China participates in activities organized by the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, International Space Exploration Coordination Group, Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, Group on Earth Observations, World Meteorological Organization, and other intergovernmental international organizations. China has also developed multilateral exchanges and cooperation in satellite navigation, Earth observation and Earth science and research, disaster prevention and mitigation, deep-space exploration, space debris, and other areas. China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system has become one of the world’s four core system suppliers accredited by the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems and will gradually provide regional and global navigation and positioning service as well as strengthened compatibility and interoperability with other satellite navigation systems.

The cooperation between China and Brazil on Earth Resources Satellite is smoothly progressing. On October 14, 1999, China successfully launched the first China-Brazil Earth resources satellites. In addition to the Whole-Satellite cooperation, China and Brazil have carried out a number of cooperation in satellite technology, satellite applications, and satellite components. Following the successful launch of the Sino-Brazilian Earth Resources Satellite 02 in October 2003, the Chinese and Brazilian governments signed supplementary protocols on the joint research and manufacturing of satellites 02B, 03, and 04 and on cooperation in a data application system, maintaining the continuity of data of Sino-Brazilian Earth resources satellites and expanding the application of such satellites’ data regionwide and worldwide.

China and the ESA have conducted the Sino-ESA Double Star Satellite Exploration of the Earth’s Space Plan. China’s relevant departments and the ESA have implemented the “Dragon Program,” involving cooperation in Earth observation satellites, having so far conducted 16 remote sensing application projects in the fields of agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, meteorology, oceanography, and disasters.

Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding on technological cooperation in the peaceful utilization and development of outer space was signed between China and Venezuela. The two nations have established a technology, industry, and space sub-committee under the China-Venezuela Senior Mixed Committee. Under this framework, bilateral cooperation in communications satellites, remote sensing satellites, satellite applications, and other areas is promoted. China has exported satellites and made in-orbit delivery of Venezuela’s remote sensing satellite-1.

China has exported satellites and made in-orbit delivery of Nigeria’s communications satellite, Bolivia’s communications satellite, Laos’ communications satellite-1 and Belarus’ communications satellite-1.

As one of the four major GNSS providers, BDS persists in open cooperation and resource sharing, actively carries out international exchanges and cooperation, and promotes the global satellite navigation development. China has taken part in international activities organized by the United Nations and other relevant international organizations, within the framework of relevant multilateral mechanisms. Under the framework of ITU, international frequency coordination activities have been conducted. China supported the extension of the radio-determination satellite service (space-to-Earth) allocations in the S-band and successfully pushed forward the S-band as another band for navigation satellites, with joint efforts with delegates from other countries. As members of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) and the ICG Providers’ Forum, China actively participated in the meetings held by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the seminars organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The China Satellite Navigation Conference has been held annually, with more than 3,000 attendees every year. China actively established interaction mechanisms with navigation meetings of the United States, Russia, and Europe, participated in, organized, and hosted international academic exchange activities of satellite navigation, so as to strengthen international exchanges and attract global intellectual resources to jointly promote the development of satellite navigation technologies. Under the framework of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), a number of cooperative projects are being implemented in the fields of monitoring and assessment, research and applications of the BDS/GNSS compatible terminals in disaster reduction, development of BDS/GNSS software receiver, as well as education and training on satellite navigation, in order to upgrade the technologies and to strengthen fundamental capacity building of the APSCO member states.

China actively participated in activities organized by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, started the Space Debris Action Plan , and strengthened international exchanges and cooperation in the field of space debris research. The nation’s independently developed space debris protective design system has also been incorporated into the protection manual of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee.

Conclusion

Currently, an increasing number of countries attaches importance to and takes part in developing space activities. Moreover, space technology is widely applied in all aspects of our daily life, exerting a major and far-reaching influence on social production and lifestyle and increasingly in the field of safety and security.

It is mankind’s unremitting pursuit to peacefully explore and utilize outer space. Standing at a new historical starting line, China is determined to accelerate the pace of developing its space industry and actively carry out international space exchanges and cooperation, so that achievements in space activities will serve and improve the well-being of mankind in a wider scope, at a deeper level and with higher standards. China will promote the lofty cause of peace and development together with other countries.