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China National Space Administration (CNSA)

CN

国家航天局

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is the governmental organization of the People's Republic of China responsible for managing national space activities. Founded in 1993, CNSA helps guide China's space law, operates a fleet of satellites for Earth observation, and sends missions to explore the Solar System. It contracts with state-owned companies like the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) for the development of launch vehicles and spacecraft and manages programs like the Chang'e lunar exploration program. CNSA also engages in international collaborations with other space agencies.

gov civilFounded 1993
History · 1 eventJun 1, 1993 · Ministry of Aerospace Industry dissolved into China Aerospace Industry Corporation (CASC predecessor) and CNSA
China
www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The China National Space Administration is preparing the Chang’e 7 and Chang’e 8 missions to advance understanding of lunar polar water and in-situ resource utilization.

PlanGeneralValue 3.6Apr 14, 2025Moon Monday #221: The US is failing to explore lunar water as the principal goal of Artemis

The Chandrayaan 5 LUPEX mission has a goal similar to CNSA’s Chang’e 7 mission, which targets advancing understanding of polar surface and near-surface water ice.

GeneralValue 3.0Apr 4, 2025Newly approved Chandrayaan 5 LUPEX mission will drill for water on the Moon and aid Artemis | Indian Space Progress #25-26

Blue Ghost's landing precision (approximately 118 meters from target) is less precise than JAXA's SLIM (about 55 meters from target) and CNSA's Chang'e 3 (about 90 meters from target).

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Mar 10, 2025Moon Monday #216: Firefly Blue Ghost brings precision landing and lunar sci-tech bounties

Zhang Kejian was one of the longest-serving CNSA administrators since the agency’s foundation in 1993.

GovernanceValue 3.6Dec 30, 2024China’s space agency faces leadership change amid shake-up

CNSA and the National Development and Reform Commission are developing a national civilian space infrastructure medium- and long-term development plan covering 2026–2035.

PlanGovernanceValue 3.8Nov 12, 2024China’s space agency to boost support for commercial space sector

Li Guoping, chief engineer of the China National Space Administration, delivered a keynote speech at the Zhuhai Commercial Space Development Forum in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province on 2024-11-11.

GovernanceGeneralValue 1.5Nov 12, 2024China’s space agency to boost support for commercial space sector

CNSA Deputy Director Bian Zhigang advocates removal of U.S. legal obstacles such as the Wolf Amendment to allow regular Sino-U.S. cooperation in space.

LegalGeneralValue 3.0Nov 11, 2024Moon Monday #201: Scientists can now study exotic Chang’e 6 lunar samples

CNSA designated 325 grams of Chang’e 6 drilled samples that were taken from below the lunar surface and planned to prepare, sort, and store them over up to two months.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Nov 11, 2024Moon Monday #201: Scientists can now study exotic Chang’e 6 lunar samples

CNSA released Chang’e 6 lander instrument data from the landing and panoramic cameras, the mineral spectrometer, and the ground-penetrating radar.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Nov 11, 2024Moon Monday #201: Scientists can now study exotic Chang’e 6 lunar samples

In 2022 CNSA exchanged 1.5 grams of Chang’e 5 samples with Roscosmos in return for Soviet Luna 16 samples.

RelationshipsValue 4.5Nov 11, 2024Moon Monday #201: Scientists can now study exotic Chang’e 6 lunar samples

China National Space Administration opened the first round of applications for scientists to study Chang’e 6 lunar samples.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Nov 11, 2024Moon Monday #201: Scientists can now study exotic Chang’e 6 lunar samples

U.S. and Chinese entities have not finalized terms for U.S. researchers to access Chang’e 5 samples or for potential exchanges of lunar samples between NASA and CNSA.

LegalRelationshipsGeneralValue 3.0Nov 11, 2024Moon Monday #201: Scientists can now study exotic Chang’e 6 lunar samples

CNSA started accepting the eighth batch of applications to study Chang’e 5 lunar samples with a closing date of November 22 and allowed proposals from international researchers.

PlanLegalValue 3.2Nov 11, 2024Moon Monday #201: Scientists can now study exotic Chang’e 6 lunar samples

The Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China National Space Administration, and the China Manned Space Engineering Office jointly released the National Space Science Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2024–2050) in a press conference on 2024-10-15.

PlanGovernanceLegalValue 3.0Oct 22, 2024Venus atmosphere sample return noted in China’s long-term space science roadmap

ESA will provide ground station support for Chang’e-6 through its ESTRACK tracking station network.

RelationshipsCapabilityPlanValue 4.0Jun 12, 2024ESA-China moon cooperation could end with Chang’e-6

Serbia’s Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Space Administration on cooperation on the International Lunar Research Station earlier 2024-05-06.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.0May 10, 2024Serbia becomes latest country to join China’s ILRS moon base project

The China National Space Administration reached agreements on 2024-04-24 with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences regarding the ILRS.

RelationshipsValue 4.0Apr 25, 2024Nicaragua signs up to China’s ILRS moon program

China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory under the China National Space Administration aimed to complete agreements with founding members of the International Lunar Research Station by October 2023.

PlanRelationshipsValue 3.0Apr 5, 2024Thailand joins China-led ILRS moon base initiative

Xu Zhanbin, deputy administrator of the China National Space Administration, signed the 2024-04-05 memorandum of understanding on the International Lunar Research Station with Permsuk Sutchaphiwat, Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

RelationshipsGovernanceValue 4.0Apr 5, 2024Thailand joins China-led ILRS moon base initiative

DSEL was established under the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in 2022 to support China’s lunar and deep space exploration plans.

GeneralPlanValue 2.6Feb 7, 2024China to launch lunar navigation and communications test satellites
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