National Space Science Center
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院国家空间科学中心 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 空间中心, 中国科学院“581”组, 中国科学院地球物理所二部, 应用地球物理所, 航天五院505所, 中国科学院空间物理研究所, 中国科学院空间科学技术中心, 空间科学与应用研究中心 |
| English aliases | |
| Acronyms | NSSC |
| Research fields | Space satellite research, space physics, space weather |
| Total employee count | 834 (as of July 2025) |
Summary
National Space Science Center is categorised as a Regular Defence Partner based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 4 indicator
- Defence award
- 2 indicators
- Defence funding
- 3 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 2 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 1 indicators
- Research collaboration with defence entities
- 3 indicators
A regular defence partner frequently contributes to the development of China’s defence capabilities. Evidence indicates participation by multiple researchers in defence-related activities, with such activities occurring at consistent intervals and continuing in recent years. While engagement may be limited in scale or scope, its continuity suggests an established pattern of defence collaboration rather than isolated involvement
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
One member of the leadership of the National Space Science Centre is the head of the scientific expert group for the Solar System Edge Exploration Mission.[1] Initiated in 2020 by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) - an agency subordinate to the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) - the project aims to 'enable Chinese spacecraft to reach deep space at 80-100 astronomical units by 2049'.[2] The mission pursues four main scientific objectives: 'exploration of uninhabited areas, a complete view of the heliosphere, close-up observations of major planets, and solar system archaeology'.[3] Achieving these goals requires advances in six dual-use technology areas: 'interplanetary orbit design and optimisation technology, new energy and propulsion technology, ultra-long-distance deep space telemetry and communication technology, deep space autonomous control, high-reliability and long-life technology, and new scientific payload technology'.[4]
It is unclear whether other members of the centre's leadership team have served on defence-related expert committees. The underlying data is either incomplete or outdated, which means such service cannot be fully ruled out.
Defence awards
Available information indicates that researchers from the National Space Science Center have received at least four separate defence awards over time, namely four separate instances of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award.[5]
Dates are not known for any of the four awards. However, three were granted to two researchers who spent their entire career at the National Space Science Center,[6] meaning those awards can be confidently tied to work conducted at the National Space Science Center. The fourth award was granted to a researcher who spent three years away from the institute,[7] preventing our analysis from confidently connecting this award to the National Space Science Center.
It is known that researchers and projects linked to the National Space Science Center have received defence awards at some point. However, because the underlying data are incomplete and lack sufficient detail, award dates and whether they were granted in recent years or while researchers were employed by the center cannot be verified. This assessment is therefore made with medium confidence. Awards granted to individuals not surveyed, or prior to their affiliation or more recently, cannot be fully ruled out.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the National Space Science Center authored 17 publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 41st percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 1,837 authors affiliated with the National Space Science Center who published during this period, 41 (2 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, one laboratory, not categorised as a defence laboratory, referenced links to defence activities on its 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.
Key Laboratory of Microwave Remote Sensing
| Name | Key Laboratory of Microwave Remote Sensing [微波遥感技术重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | High precision microwave/millimetre wave detection and measurement; satellite altimetry; radar, space and geoscience research |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory has 'made important contributions to [China's] national security'.[8] |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the National Space Science Center 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 National Space Science Center were listed on any military-technology patents during this period.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the National Space Science Center co-authored 478 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 67th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 14 publications with PLA academic institutions, 227 with defence laboratories, 243 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence, 25 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry and 2 with defence conglomerates.
Of the 1,837 authors affiliated with the National Space Science Center who published during this period, 658 (36 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.
- National Space Science Center. 2009. 'Wang, Chi.' [王赤]. As of 26 January 2026.Return to content⤴
- Wang, Chi [王赤]. 2021. 'Academician Wang Chi: China is currently discussing a project to explore the edge of the solar system.' [王赤院士: 中国正在论证太阳系边际探测工程]. Science and Technology Review [科技导报]. As of 5 March 2026.Return to content⤴
- Qiu, Bingqing [邱冰清]. 2021. 'China has initiated feasibility studies for its solar system boundary exploration project.' [中国已启动太阳系边际探测工程论证工作]. Xinhua News Agency [新华社]. As of 5 March 2026.Return to content⤴
- Wang, Chi [王赤]. 2021. 'Academician Wang Chi: China is currently discussing a project to explore the edge of the solar system.' [王赤院士: 中国正在论证太阳系边际探测工程]. Science and Technology Review [科技导报]. As of 5 March 2026.Return to content⤴
- State Key Laboratory of Solar Activity and Space Weather. 2025. 'Laboratory Staff: Luo Bingxian.' [实验室人员: 罗冰显]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴ Baike Baidu. 2025. 'Peng Xiaodong.' [彭晓东]. As of 7 April 2026. Laboratory of Space Environment Exploration. 2023. 'Leadership Overview: Zhang Xianguo.' [领导简介: 张贤国]. As of 7 April 2026.
- Baike Baidu. 'Peng Xiaodong.' [彭晓东]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴ University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 'Peng Xiaodong.' [彭晓东]. As of 7 April 2026. Laboratory of Space Environment Exploration. 2023. 'Leadership Overview: Zhang Xianguo.' [领导简介: 张贤国]. As of 7 April 2026.
- State Key Laboratory of Solar Activity and Space Weather. 2025. 'Laboratory Staff: Luo Bingxian.' [实验室人员: 罗冰显]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴ University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 'Luo Bingxian.' [罗冰显]. As of 7 April 2026.
- Key Laboratory of Microwave Remote Sensing. 2025. 'Introduction.' [简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴