China National Space Administration

Hello. We are the China National Space Administration, an organization many people know by our acronym, CNSA. Our journey began on April 22nd, 1993, when we were established to plan and lead our country's space missions. Our purpose is to explore the universe for the benefit of everyone, focusing on the peaceful use of space. This work involves many different kinds of projects. We launch satellites that help people on Earth with important tasks like communication, navigation, and forecasting the weather. We also design and send robotic probes to explore distant worlds, gathering scientific knowledge about our solar system. Every mission we undertake is guided by our dedication to advancing science and technology through peaceful exploration.

One of our earliest and most significant long-term goals has been the exploration of the Moon. To achieve this, we created the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, which is also known as the Chang'e program. This name was chosen to honor the Chinese goddess of the Moon. Our journey to the Moon began with careful steps. In 2007, we sent our first lunar orbiter, Chang'e 1, which successfully circled the Moon and gathered valuable information from above. This success paved the way for more ambitious missions. A major milestone for space exploration occurred in 2019 when our Chang'e 4 mission accomplished the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the Moon, an area that is never visible from Earth. Following this achievement, our Chang'e 5 mission in 2020 successfully landed on the Moon, collected rock and soil samples, and returned them safely to Earth for scientists to study in detail.

With our lunar program well underway, we expanded our focus to include the planet Mars. In 2020, we launched an ambitious multi-part mission called Tianwen-1. This single launch included an orbiter to circle Mars, a lander to touch down on the surface, and a rover to explore the terrain. In 2021, the lander successfully brought the rover, named Zhurong, to the Martian surface. When Zhurong began its exploration, China became the second country in history to successfully operate a rover on the Red Planet. While we were reaching for Mars, we were also building a permanent home in Earth's orbit. This project is the Tiangong space station, which we completed in 2022. Our astronauts, who are called taikonauts, now live and work aboard Tiangong for months at a time. There, they conduct important scientific experiments in a unique microgravity environment.

Our work exploring the cosmos continues as we look toward the future. We are currently planning more advanced missions to the Moon, with the goal of eventually sending our taikonauts to walk on its surface. We are also engaged in discussions about working with other countries to build an international research station on the Moon, fostering global cooperation in space. Beyond the Moon, we will continue to explore our solar system with new robotic missions. At the same time, we remain committed to using our satellites to improve life here on Earth. Our fundamental goals have not changed: we aim to keep learning about the universe, develop new technologies that can help humanity, and promote peaceful international partnerships in space for many years to come.