China to unveil intl payload cooperation for Chang’e-8 lunar probe on upcoming national space day: CNSA

China will unveil the international payload cooperation list for the country's Chang'e-8 lunar probe mission at this year's Space Day of China, with 15 projects selected from the European Space Agency (ESA), Pakistan, Thailand, as well as other countries, regions and international organizations, covering cutting-edge fields like lunar robots and rovers, Liu Yunfeng, deputy director of the China National Space Administration's (CNSA) system engineering office, disclosed on Thursday.

Liu made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday in Beijing, introducing detailed plans for this year's celebration of the country's 10th national space day which falls on April 24. The main event will be held in Shanghai, co-hosted by the China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the CNSA, and the Shanghai Government. It is organized by the People's Government of Pudong New Area and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with Thailand serving as this year's guest of honor.

Also, first batch of scientific results from the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor, a joint satellite program developed by China and France, will be released at this year's Space Day of China, and according to Liu, these findings will provide key data for scientists worldwide to study extreme phenomenon in the universe. 

At the same time, the upcoming event will also announce the results of the international selection for the loan of Chang'e-5 lunar samples, further promoting global lunar science research, Liu said. 

China designated April 24 as the Space Day of China in 2016 to mark the launch of its first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970. Since 2016, the Space Day of China celebrations have been held in cities across the country including Beijing, Xi'an, Haikou, Hefei and Wuhan, with relevant activities being held both online and offline.

Its presence has reached every corner of China, earning widespread recognition and attention from all sectors of society. It has become a key platform and window for promoting the spirit of space exploration, sharing space culture, popularizing scientific knowledge and uniting strength for China's space endeavors, Zhang Tao, director of the CNSA publicity department, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Reviewing China's space strides in 2024, Liu, the CNSA official, said that China has executed 68 successful orbital launches in 2024, setting a new historic high. Liu added to the list of 2024 highlights the Chang'e-6 successful retrieving of lunar samples from the far side of the moon, a world first.

Last year, China carried out Shenzhou-18 and -19 manned spaceflights, as well as Tianzohu-7 and -8 cargo spacecraft to the China Space Station with full success. China's first commercial space launch site in South China's Hainan Province also became operational in 2024, according to Liu.

With a dense schedule of missions, China Space's 2025 will be even busier. Tianwen-2 will carry out a mission to rendezvous with and sample a near-Earth asteroid. The manned space program will launch the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft. 

The China-Europe joint mission, the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Interaction Panorama Imaging Satellite, will explore the processes and patterns of solar wind-magnetosphere interactions. The China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Satellite 02 will be launched when conditions are favorable, contributing to earthquake prediction research, per the CNSA.

Zhuang Mudi, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, extended a warm welcome to visitors worldwide to the Space Day of China this year in China, at the Thursday conference in Beijing.

Zhuang noted that Shanghai boasts a solid foundation in the space industry. From the Chang'e lunar exploration program, Tianhe space station core module and Tianwen Mars probe mission, to the "Xihe" solar observation, Fengyun meteorological satellites, the Qianfan satellite constellation, the "rockets made in Shanghai" and "satellites made in Shanghai" are found throughout China's major space missions. 

The city is home to more than 240 major space enterprises and has established a complete industrial ecosystem covering rockets, satellites, terminals and services. Shanghai has also built a closed-loop space industrial chain of "technology R&D - capital matchmaking - application deployment," and developed mass production capabilities for 50 commercial rockets and 600 commercial satellites annually, according to Zhuang. 

The Shanghai government official also vowed to achieve several goals in the city's space industry development in coming years. By 2027, Shanghai aims to grow its commercial space industry to a scale exceeding 100 billion yuan ($13.6 billion). The city seeks to achieve an annual production capacity of 100 commercial rockets and 1,000 commercial satellites, and to establish itself as a hub for reusable rocket innovation, low-cost satellite manufacturing and industry application services, Zhuang said. 

According to the organizers, lunar samples collected by Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 from the near and far sides of the moon will be displayed together in Shanghai during the Space Day of China. 

A series of featured events will also be held, including the International Lunar Research Station Developers Conference. Officials from relevant government departments, academicians, experts and international guests from 41 countries, regions and international organizations will also attend the main event in Shanghai.