As part of an ambitious agenda, China’s national space laboratory plans to embark on over 1,000 research projects during its mission over the next 10 to 15 years.

This extensive scientific endeavor will be spearheaded by the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The initiative aims to foster scientific outreach while enhancing international cooperation.

The Chinese space station, noted for its comprehensive capabilities across an array of space science disciplines, is geared to remain operational in orbit for more than a decade.

The Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization emphasized the station’s dedication to pioneering breakthroughs in crucial frontier fields of research, ultimately positioning it at the forefront of global scientific exploration.

Furthermore, the program seeks to achieve a systemic understanding of applied fundamentals and innovate in new space technologies to fulfill significant national demands.

In a recent press briefing, the center highlighted the platform’s distinctive ability to tackle critical scientific and application challenges.

It provides long-term microgravity and cosmic radiation environments, unique conditions that are further enhanced by astronaut involvement and Earth-space transportation, making it a pivotal site for novel space technology experiments.

Following a rigorous evaluation process involving over 100 academicians and more than 1,000 experts, China has established an intricate research framework for its space station.

This program includes 32 research themes across four primary domains: space life sciences and human research, microgravity physical sciences, space astronomy and Earth sciences, as well as new space technologies and applications.

The space station's sophisticated infrastructure comprises more than 20 cabin scientific experiment cabinets and three extravehicular exposure experiment platforms, meeting internationally advanced standards across various fields, including life ecology, biotechnology, fluid physics, and high-temperature materials.

Notably, ongoing developments include a 2-meter aperture space station survey telescope (CSST) designed to be internationally competitive.

To date, the Chinese space station has accomplished more than 180 scientific and application projects in orbit.

Nearly two tons of scientific materials, along with various experimental modules, units, and samples, have been launched and hundreds of space science experiment samples have been successfully returned to Earth.

This effort has generated over 265TB of scientific data.

Collaboration among scientific teams within China’s space station framework has led to groundbreaking discoveries across disciplines.

This has resulted in the publication of over 500 high-level research papers and the authorization of more than 150 patents.

According to the center, some of these discoveries have been transferred into applications, driving the expedited advancement of China’s space science and applications.