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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.

Zhang Kejian, China National Space Administration administrator, and Sherif Sedky, Chief Operating Officer of the Egyptian Space Agency, signed a cooperation agreement on the ILRS in Beijing on 2023-12-06.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.0Dec 7, 2023Egypt joins China’s ILRS moon base initiative

The China National Space Administration opened internationally-led applications for Chang’e-5 samples in August 2023, more than 2.5 years after Chang’e-5 landed.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Dec 1, 2023NASA researchers get permission to apply for China’s moon samples

The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory under CNSA set a goal to complete signing agreements with space agencies and organizations for founding ILRS members by October 2023.

PlanValue 3.4Oct 23, 2023China adds Belarus as partner for ILRS moon base

Vladimir Gusakov, chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), and Zhang Kejian, China National Space Administration (CNSA) administrator, signed a joint declaration on cooperation for the ILRS on 2023-10-23.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.0Oct 23, 2023China adds Belarus as partner for ILRS moon base

Zhang Kejian, China National Space Administration (CNSA) administrator, and Moin ul Haque, Pakistan’s ambassador to China, signed an understanding between CNSA and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) on 2023-10-18 to cooperate on the ILRS.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.2Oct 20, 2023Pakistan becomes latest country to join China’s ILRS moon project

The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) under CNSA set a goal to complete signing agreements with space agencies and organizations for founding members of ILRSCO by October 2023.

PlanRelationshipsValue 3.5Oct 20, 2023Pakistan becomes latest country to join China’s ILRS moon project

Li Guoping, chief engineer of the China National Space Administration, and Samaddin Asadov, chairman of the Board of Azercosmos, signed the ILRS joint statement on 2023-10-03.

GovernanceGeneralValue 3.5Oct 8, 2023Azerbaijan signs up to China’s international moon base project

The China National Space Administration set preliminary and final selections for Chang'e-8 payloads to be completed by April 2024 and September 2024 respectively.

PlanValue 4.0Oct 2, 2023China outlines Chang’e-8 resource utilization mission to the lunar south pole

The China National Space Administration oversees exploratory missions and defense operations.

GeneralValue 1.0Sep 25, 2023Hiding in plain sight: Is China’s spaceplane a co-orbital ASAT in disguise?

CNSA has signed joint ILRS statements 2023 with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), Swiss firm nanoSPACE AG, and the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA).

RelationshipsValue 4.2Sep 7, 2023South Africa joins China’s moon base project

The Memorandum of Understanding between the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) on the ILRS was signed on 2023-09-01.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.0Sep 7, 2023South Africa joins China’s moon base project

Humbulani Mudau, CEO of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), signed the ILRS Memorandum of Understanding with CNSA on 2023-09-01.

GovernanceRelationshipsValue 4.0Sep 7, 2023South Africa joins China’s moon base project

CNSA Administrator Zhang Kejian and Venezuela’s Vice President Gabriela Jimenez signed a joint ILRS statement on 2023-07-17.

GeneralGovernanceLegalValue 1.5Sep 7, 2023South Africa joins China’s moon base project

The China National Space Administration oversaw the organization of the L-SAR4 01 launch and manages the satellite program.

PlanGovernanceValue 3.0Aug 13, 2023China sends world’s first high-orbit SAR satellite into orbit, improving disaster monitoring

Zhang Kejian, administrator of the China National Space Administration, and Gabriela Jimenez, Venezuela’s Vice President and Minister of Science and Technology, signed a joint statement on the ILRS on 2023-07-17 via video.

RelationshipsGovernanceValue 3.8Jul 18, 2023Venezuela signs up to China’s moon base initiative

CNSA signed joint statements on the ILRS 2023 with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, Swiss firm nanoSPACE AG, and the International Lunar Observatory Association.

RelationshipsValue 4.5Jul 18, 2023Venezuela signs up to China’s moon base initiative

The CNSA releases a new space program every five years but does not provide specific timelines for milestones.

GeneralValue 1.5Jul 3, 2023What does the People’s Republic of China’s space program mean for Great Britain and the West?

The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) under the China National Space Administration aims to complete signing agreements and memorandums of understanding with space agencies and organizations for founding members of ILRSCO by October 2023.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Jun 19, 2023China attracts moon base partners, outlines project timelines

Since unveiling the first ILRS road map in 2021, the China National Space Administration has signed cooperation agreements or letters of intent with Russia, Argentina, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Brazil.

RelationshipsPlanGovernanceValue 3.2Apr 28, 2023China to establish organization to coordinate international moon base

China National Space Administration and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization signed a joint statement on ILRS cooperation on 2023-04-25 in Hefei, Anhui province.

RelationshipsValue 4.0Apr 28, 2023China to establish organization to coordinate international moon base
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