Changchun Observatory
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 春人造卫星观测站 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Changchun Observatory of National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | |
| English aliases | |
| Acronyms | |
| Research fields | Optical astronomy, radio astronomy, galactic cosmology, solar physics, space science, lunar and deep‑space exploration, applied astronomy |
| Total employee count | 54 (as of 23 November 2025) |
Summary
Changchun Observatory is categorised as a Civilian Institute based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 1 indicators
- Defence award
- 2 indicators
- Defence funding
- 1 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 2 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 1 indicators
- Research collaboration with defence entities
- 2 indicators
A civilian institute shows no public evidence of past or ongoing participation in the development or sustainment of China’s defence capabilities. Available data reveal no indications of defence-related projects, funding, collaborations or staff involvement. While this likely reflects a predominantly civilian focus, the classification is based on the absence of observable defence activity rather than verified confirmation of a strictly civilian research agenda.
Rules-based framework
| Rule | Resulting category |
|---|---|
| Two or more indicators = 4 | Core defence partner |
| One indicator = 4 and two indicators = 3 or Three or more indicators = 3 | Regular defence partner |
| One indicator = 4 and one indicator = 3 and all other indicators = 1 or 2 or Two indicators = 3 and all other indicators = 1 or 2 | Limited defence partner |
| All indicators between 0 and 2 | Civilian institute |
| Three or more indicators = 0 | Insufficient data |
Note: All indicators operate on a 0 to 4 scale. There are a total of six indicators.
For more information on the graded scales see the user guide.
Defence advisory roles
Members of the leadership of the Changchun Observatory have probably not served on defence-related expert committees. However, because the underlying data are outdated and incomplete, this assessment is made with medium confidence. Such service by members not surveyed, or after 2023, cannot be fully ruled out.
Defence awards
Available information indicates that Changchun Observatory researchers have received at least four separate defence awards over time. These include one Military Science and Technology Progress Award, one National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award, one title of Advanced Collective for the First Mars Exploration Mission, and one Meritorious Personnel Award of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence for China's First Lunar Exploration Project.[1]
All four of the defence awards were granted while the recipient researcher or laboratory group were active at the institute.
Identified awards were granted from 2008 to 2022. Only one of these awards was granted in recent years, namely the title of Advanced Collective for the First Mars Exploration Mission granted in 2022.[2]
Researchers and projects at Changchun Observatory have almost certainly received one defence award since 2021. As the data reviewed is thorough, recent and covers a significant portion of relevant staff, this assessment is made with high confidence.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Changchun Observatory authored no publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute at the very bottom (0th percentile) among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 109 Changchun Observatory authors who published during this period, 0 (0 per cent) had at least one defence-funded publication. However, it is not possible to attribute specific funding to individual researchers based solely on publication data.
Defence laboratories
No publicly available information suggests that this institute hosts or is affiliated with any known defence laboratories. However, two laboratories, not categorised as defence laboratories, referenced links to defence activities on their Chinese‑language website. General references to promoting national security or defence are common on CAS laboratory websites. These statements often serve as broad affirmations of alignment with national policy objectives — a routine expression of support for government priorities that can be important for maintaining institutional standing, access to funding or official recognition — rather than firm evidence that the laboratory conducts defence-related research.
Optoelectronic Observation Laboratory
| Name | Optoelectronic Observation Laboratory [光电观测研究室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Astronomical positioning, measured astrophysics, research on the spectral characteristics of space targets |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory was commended and awarded by the National Defence Science and Technology Commission.[3] However, because that commission was merged into the Science and Technology Department of the Central Military Commission in July 1982, the award was likely granted before that date. |
Satellite Laser Ranging Laboratory
| Name | Satellite Laser Ranging Laboratory [卫星激光测距研究室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | High‑repetition frequency laser ranging data, lunar laser ranging, high‑precision lasers |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory focuses on applied astronomical research serving national space security.[4] |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Changchun Observatory was not granted any military-technology patents. This places it at the very bottom (0th percentile) among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. No inventors from the Changchun Observatory were listed on any military-technology patents during this period.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Changchun Observatory co-authored 17 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 0th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 3 publications with defence laboratories, 2 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence and 14 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry.
Of the 109 Changchun Observatory authors who published during this period, 28 (26 per cent) had at least one defence-related collaboration.
Return to directoryNotes
All cited web content was viewed at its original website location; however, to ensure ongoing accessibility we are providing links to Internet Archive versions here.
- Changchun Observatory, National Astronomical Observatories. 2010. ‘Researcher: Liu Chengzhi.’ [研究员：刘承志]. As of 7 April 2026; 2022. ‘Previous Directors.’ [历任台长]. As of 7 April 2026; National Astronomical Observatories. 2023. ‘Chronology of Major Events at the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2022.’ [中国科学院国家天文台2022年大事记]. 8 August. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- National Astronomical Observatories. 2023. ‘Chronology of Major Events at the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2022.’ [中国科学院国家天文台2022年大事记]. 8 August. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Changchun Observatory. 2015. ‘Optoelectronic Observation Laboratory.’ [光电观测研究室]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Changchun Observatory. 2022. ‘Satellite Laser Ranging Laboratory.’ [卫星激光测距研究室]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴