Original title: Focus on “2021 China’s Aerospace” white paper: linking the previous and the next, drawing a vision, focusing on cutting-edge open cooperation Source: China News Network
China News Agency, Beijing, January 28th: Focus on the White Paper on “2021 China’s Aerospace”: Linking the Past and the Next, Drawing a Vision, Focusing on Frontier Open Cooperation
Author Ma Shuisha
China’s State Council Information Office released the “2021 China’s Aerospace” white paper on the 28th, which is China’s fifth aerospace white paper and the first white paper released by the Chinese government in 2022. The white paper summarizes China’s achievements in space science, space technology, and space applications in the past five years, and focuses on the development vision for the next five years.
Yang Yuguang, vice chairman of the International Astronautical Union Space Transportation Committee, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency that the white paper is not long, but the content is comprehensive and information-intensive. In order to make good use of the existing aerospace achievements and better connect the previous and the next, a clear and specific roadmap has been outlined, which is like a condensed “encyclopedia”.
Compared with the previous four white papers, the “2021 China’s Aerospace” white paper has its own bright spots. For example, it proposed that China will accelerate the legislation of space law, build and improve the space legal system with space law as the core, and promote the construction of the rule of law in space; it will coordinate the construction of the space environment governance system, strengthen the management of space traffic, and build and improve the space debris monitoring facility system. , cataloging the database and early warning service system, and coordinating the maintenance of spacecraft on-orbit, collision avoidance control, space debris mitigation, etc., which not only shows the focus of China’s aerospace industry, but also shows transparency.
How to develop commercial aerospace is also a highlight of the white paper. China National Space Administration spokesman Xu Hongliang pointed out in Beijing that the white paper fully reflects the concept of high-quality development. In terms of development model, China encourages and supports the development of commercial aerospace enterprises, continuously optimizes the layout of commercial aerospace in the industrial chain, and accelerates the low cost of aerospace. , High-efficiency development.
Yang Yuguang believes that China’s commercial aerospace has made great progress and development in the past five years. In the future, private capital will play an important role in China’s aerospace development, which is complementary to the “main force” of aerospace state-owned enterprises, “especially in terms of technological innovation. , will play a positive role.”
It is worth mentioning that, on important issues that are widely concerned by the international space community, the white paper specifies China’s actions. For example, the white paper proposes that in the next five years, China will demonstrate the construction of a defense system for small near-Earth objects and improve monitoring, cataloguing, early warning and response capabilities. Some industry experts pointed out that it is generally believed that a small celestial body of 1 km level hitting the earth may cause a global disaster, and a small celestial body of 10 km level hitting the earth may bring about the risk of global mass extinction.
Yang Yuguang said that at present, human monitoring methods for small celestial bodies that may pass by the earth are not very complete, and there are still potential small celestial bodies that threaten the earth. At the same time, the redirection or defense of small extraterrestrial objects, whether it is interception or steering, is also very complicated.
“The monitoring, early warning and defense of small near-Earth objects in the future will require a lot of investment. From conceptual research, feasibility demonstration, to overcoming key technologies, and actual on-orbit demonstration, it needs to be done step by step.” Yang Yuguang said.
The outside world has noticed that the white paper proposes for the first time to promote the joint construction of a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of outer space, showing to the world China’s active and open cooperation attitude in aerospace. In Yang Yuguang’s view, the proposal of this concept reflects China’s sense of responsibility as a aerospace power.
He pointed out that from a historical perspective, in the past, China focused on the research and development of key technologies. With the expansion of the aerospace industry and the maturity of technology, China has changed from a follower to a parallel runner, and has even become a world leader in certain fields. Those who have certain aerospace capabilities.
“On the other hand, this is also determined by the application of aerospace technology itself.” Yang Yuguang said that the application of China’s aerospace technology is going deeper and wider, and space applications, especially satellite remote sensing and satellite communication applications, are starting to serve China’s national economy and The needs of people’s livelihood have been extended to serve the people of the countries and regions along the “Belt and Road” and even global users. At the same time, China is also benefiting from the aerospace activities of other countries. “These are in line with the concept of a community with a shared future. China’s development of aerospace is not for hegemony. Or hegemony, but for the common well-being of all mankind.”
Focusing on the next five years, China has planned the key points of international cooperation in aerospace in terms of global governance of outer space, manned spaceflight, deep space exploration, and space technology, many of which involve cutting-edge issues. For example, focus on promoting the cooperation of international lunar scientific research stations, promote wider international cooperation such as joint selection and training of astronauts and joint flights, and actively participate in discussions and mechanisms on international issues in the fields of space environment governance, planetary protection, space traffic management, space resource development and utilization, etc. build etc.
Yang Yuguang believes that the “focus” set by the white paper for China’s aerospace industry can allow countries around the world to have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China’s aerospace development and principles, and provide them with a plan for cooperation with China in which fields and technologies. Important references, especially for countries that have not had deep cooperation with China, can play a very important role. (Finish)