China's Ground Segment

China’s Ground Segment Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power

Peter Wood with Alex Stone and Taylor A. Lee

BluePath Labs, 2020 China’s Ground Segment: Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power

Chinese Space Launches per Year (1970 - 31 August 2020)* 30

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

BluePath Labs, 2020 *Does not include private space launches | SourceAbstract : Launch Record [发射记录], CASC, accessed August 2020 2 China’s Ground Segment: Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power

What is the Ground Segment?

• Includes ground stations such as telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) stations but also launch facilities, command centers, space tracking ships and other support elements

BluePath Labs, 2020 3 China’s Ground Segment: Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power

Milestones for Chinese Space Programs “Make major breakthroughs in key  Complete Beidou GNSS points and enter the ranks of Space  Launch China’s Mars Mission (Tianwen-1) 2020 Great Powers”  Complete the “China High-Resolution Earth Observation [重点突破, 进入航天强国行列] System”  Lunar sample return mission (Chang’e 5)  Begin construction of a long-term space station (completion expected 2022) “Make comprehensive improvements,  Complete first flight of heavy launch vehicle (expected 2028) join the front rank of global Space  Establish orbital service and maintenance system Great Powers” o autonomous orbital refueling ~2030 [整体跃升, 跻身世界航天强国的前列] o Automated maintenance of spacecraft in orbit o Automated space debris removal  Establish the “Space-Earth Integrated Information Network” o Complete national civil space infrastructure (2025)  Manned Lunar landing “Take the lead, Comprehensively  Manned mission to Mars Become a Space Great Power”  Establish long-term base on the moon 2050 [超越引领，全面建成航天强国]  Deep space exploration including visiting the edge of the solar system  Creation of low-cost, reusable spacecraft transportation system

BluePath Labs, 2020 4 China’s Ground Segment: Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power

Plans for Space Infrastructure 1. National Civil Space Infrastructure Medium- to Long-Term Plan (2015-2025) [国家民用空间基础设施中长期发展规划]

Phase Objectives 12th FYP Period • Establish the backbone of the national civil space infrastructure (2011–2015) • Build a satellite development model and service support mechanisms • Formulate data sharing policies

13th FYP Period • Form three major systems: (2016–2020) • satellite remote sensing • satellite communications and broadcasting • satellite navigation and positioning; • Basically complete the national civil space infrastructure • Create a commercialization model • Be capable of providing international services. 14th FYP Period • Build a technologically advanced, highly efficient national civil space infrastructure (2021-2025) system with global coverage that supports economic and social development domestically and globally.

BluePath Labs, 2020 5 China’s Ground Segment: Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power

2. Space-Earth Integrated Information Network Mega Project [国家天地一体化信息网络重大工程] • intended to achieve the comprehensive integration of a space-based information network, future internet, and mobile communication network. • “providing information network coverage wherever [China has] national interests”

The resulting integrated network will support four application areas: • spacecraft • guided missile and space launch centers • near space flight vehicles • unmanned aircraft (UAVs)

BluePath Labs, 2020 6 China’s Ground Segment: Building the Pillars of a Great Space Power Who is involved in Ground Segment Operations? • 2016 – Establishment of the PLA Strategic Support Force (SSF) and Space Systems Department • Subordinate organizations include the Xi’an Satellite Control Center, launch sites, the China Satellite Maritime Tracking and Control Department and related research institutes • 2017 – Reorganization of institutes under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and creation of the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR). • Subordinate organizations include the Remote Sensing Satellite Ground Station (RSGS)

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