Photo taken on Dec. 27, 2016 shows the white paper, titled "China's Space Activities in 2016," issued by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China. China on Tuesday issued the white paper on its space activities in 2016 and major tasks for the next five years. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday issued a white paper chronicling its space industry since 2011 and setting out major tasks for the next five years.
"China's Space Activities in 2016," is the fourth State Council white paper on space following those issued in 2000, 2006 and 2011.
At a press conference, Wu Yanhua, deputy chief of the National Space Administration, said that China's exploration and utilization of space has exclusively peaceful motives.
China's space industry took off 60 years ago and April 24 was declared National Space Day in 2016 as a focus for pioneering spirit and enthusiasm for innovation, Wu said.
"The white paper sets out our vision of China as a space power, independently researching, innovating, discovering and training specialist personnel," Wu said.
Since 2011, China has taken great steps forward in manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the BeiDou navigation system and high-resolution earth observation system.
In the next five years, work will go on in the basic nuts and bolts of the space industry, with extensive research breaking new ground in essential technology, the white paper said.
Around 2018, the Chang'e-4 probe make the first soft landing on the far side of the moon.
By 2020, China's first Mars probe will be launched to carry out orbiting and roving exploration, and a BeiDou network consisting of 35 satellites will provide comprehensive navigation services around the world.
China will activate a heavy-lift launch vehicle project in the next five years.
The Chinese government holds that all countries have equal rights to peacefully explore, develop and utilize space and celestial bodies, the white paper said.
Space activities should benefit economic development and social progress, guaranteeing peace, security, and the survival and development of the human race.
Related:
China to achieve mankind's 1st soft landing on moon's far side around 2018
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China will launch the Chang'e-4 lunar probe around 2018 to achieve mankind's first soft landing on the far side of the moon, said a white paper released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.
The Chang'e-4 lunar probe will "conduct in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point," said the document titled "China's Space Activities in 2016."Full story
China plans to launch first Mars probe by 2020
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020 to carry out orbiting and roving exploration, said a white paper released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.
"China intends to execute its first Mars exploration operation, and grasp key technologies for orbiting, landing and roving exploration," said the document titled "China's Space Activities in 2016."Full story
China opposes weaponization, arms race in outer space: white paper
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China always adheres to the principle of the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and opposes the weaponization of or an arms race in outer space, said a white paper on Tuesday.
The white paper, titled "China's Space Activities in 2016," said the country develops and utilizes space resources in a prudent manner, 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.Full story
China to activate heavy-lift launch vehicle project in next five years
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China will activate the heavy-lift launch vehicle project in next five years, said a white paper released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.
"Endeavors will be made to research key technologies and further study the plans for developing heavy-lift launch vehicles," said the document titled "China's Space Activities in 2016."Full story
China to improve space debris database, spacecraft protection
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China will enhance the space debris basic database and data-sharing model, and advance the development of space debris monitoring facilities, according to a white paper released on Tuesday.
The white paper, titled "China's Space Activities in 2016," said China will improve the standardization system for space debris, near-earth objects and space climate in the next five years.Full story
China expects major breakthroughs in space science: white paper
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China plans to achieve major discoveries and breakthroughs in the frontier areas of space science, according to a white paper released on Tuesday.
Targeting major frontier areas of space science and technology, China will implement a series of new space science satellite programs in the next five years to further mankind's knowledge of the universe, said the white paper.Full story
