Shanghai Astronomical Observatory
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院上海天文台 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 上海天文台, 徐家汇天文台, 佘山天文台 |
| English aliases | Xujiahui Observatory, Sheshan Observatory |
| Acronyms | SHAO |
| Research fields | Astro geodynamics, astrophysics, planetary science |
| Total employee count | 385 (as of 24 November 2025) |
Summary
Shanghai Astronomical Observatory is categorised as a Limited Defence Partner based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 1 indicator
- Defence award
- 2 indicators
- Defence funding
- 2 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 3 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 1 indicators
- Research collaboration with defence entities
- 3 indicators
A limited defence partner contributes to the development of China’s defence capabilities in ways that are limited in time, frequency, scope or scale. Evidence indicates that participation has either ceased or if it persists, it is narrow in scope, not institutionalised and occurs through isolated or infrequent activities led by individual researchers, rather than through sustained programmes or organisational commitments.
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 Shanghai Astronomical Observatory have probably not served on any defence-related expert committees. While information on relevant staff is available and current, it lacks sufficient detail to rule out all potential ties. This assessment is therefore made with medium confidence.
Defence awards
Available information indicates that Shanghai Astronomical Observatory researchers have received at least nine defence awards over time. These include one National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award, five Military Science and Technology Progress Awards, one title of Outstanding Individual in the Mars Exploration Mission, one title of Outstanding Individual in Key Technology Research for Phase III of the Lunar Exploration Project, and one title of Outstanding Individual in Key Technology Research for Phase III of the Lunar Exploration Project.[1]
Of these nine awards, the known dates of three confirmed that they were granted while the recipients were employed by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. Though four of the awards were not dated, available data confirmed that the researchers had spent their entire careers at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory,[2] thus connecting the awards to this institute. Dates are not known for the remaining two, the National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award and a Military Science and Technology Progress Award.[3] One researcher's career was spent at several different institutes, while the other researcher's career history could not be verified, preventing our analysis from confidently connecting these awards to work conducted at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.
The identified awards were granted between 2008 and 2023. However, only one award, the 2022 Outstanding Individual in the Mars Exploration Mission title,[4] was granted in recent years.
Researchers and projects linked to the Shanghai Astronomical 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 Shanghai Astronomical Observatory authored five publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 16th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 1,063 authors affiliated with the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory who published during this period, ten (1 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.
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Spatial Navigation and Positioning Technology
| Name | Shanghai Key Laboratory of Spatial Navigation and Positioning Technology [上海市空间导航与定位技术重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Orbit positioning and measurement, satellite navigation technology, deep space exploration |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory won the Special Prize of a National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award for its work.[5] |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Shanghai Astronomical 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 Shanghai Astronomical Observatory were listed on any military-technology patents during this period.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory co-authored 305 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 47th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 14 publications with PLA academic institutions, 275 with defence laboratories, 21 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence and 4 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry.
Of the 1,063 authors affiliated with the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory who published during this period, 377 (35 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.
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2009. 'Researcher: Wang Guangli.' [研究员：王广利]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴ Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2018. 'Senior Engineer: Ma Maoli.' [高级工程师：马茂莉]. As of 8 April 2026. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2018. 'Senior Engineer: Zhang Haifeng.' [正高级工程师：张海峰]. As of 8 April 2026. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2016. 'Senior Engineer: Wu Zhibo.' [正高级工程师：吴志波]. As of 8 April 2026. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2009. 'Senior Engineer: Liu Qinghui.' [正高级工程师：刘庆会]. As of 8 April 2026. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2013. 'Researcher: Guo Peng.' [研究员：郭鹏]. As of 8 April 2026.
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2018. 'Senior Engineer: Zhang Haifeng.' [正高级工程师：张海峰]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴ Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2016. 'Senior Engineer: Wu Zhibo.' [正高级工程师：吴志波]. As of 8 April 2026. University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 2026. 'Wu Zhibo.' [吴志波]. As of 8 April 2026.
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2009. 'Senior Engineer: Liu Qinghui.' [正高级工程师：刘庆会]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴ Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2013. 'Researcher: Guo Peng.' [研究员：郭鹏]. As of 8 April 2026.
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. 2018. 'Senior Engineer: Ma Maoli.' [高级工程师：马茂莉]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Spatial Navigation and Positioning Technology. 2025. 'Laboratory introduction.' [实验室简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴