What are the Chinese space agencies and corporations?

Disclaimer: This article was written on the 17th of September 2023 so some information may be outdated.

This article is intended as a general explanation of the Chinese space program and the Agencies, state-owned Corporations, and state-owned enterprises that are a part of it.

China National Space Administration

The China National Space Administration is the main Chinese spaceflight agency and operates under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. China National Space Administration is headquartered in Haidian in northwest Beijing. The agency was founded on the 22nd of April 1993 when the Ministry of Aerospace Industry was split into the China National Space Administration and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The China National Space Administration is the governing body of civil space activities in China and does not run any space program. The agency is believed to have an annual budget of 8.9 billion United States dollars or 64.57 billion Chinese Yuan (this number in Yuan was from using the exchange rate on the 1st of September 2023). The current administrator of the agency is Zhang Kejian who is a politician and engineer.

The agency currently has four active launch sites, these are; Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (located in the Gobi Desert in Inner Mongolia), Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (located in Kelan County, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province), Xichang Satellite Launch Center (located in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan), and Wenchang Space Launch Site (located on the island of Hainan).

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is a state-owned aerospace corporation with the sole shareholder being the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. The corporation was established on the 1st of July 1999 as part of Chinese government reform and was previously part of the now-former China Aerospace Corporation. The corporation is headquartered in Haidian in northwest Beijing.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is the main contractor for the Chinese space program and produces space and defense equipment. The corporation is believed to have one-hundred and seventy-four thousand employees and a revenue of 294.02 billion Chinese Yuan (these figures may no longer be accurate as these figures are from 2013 and 2014).

The corporation also has several subordinate entities. The subordinate research and development and production complexes are; China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology, Sichuan Academy of Aerospace Technology, Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, China Academy of Aerospace Electronics Technology, and China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics. The corporations’ subordinate specialized companies are; China Satellite Communications, China Great Wall Industry Corporation Limited, China Aerospace International Holdings, Beijing Shenzhou Aerospace Software Technology Co, China Spacesat Co, China Siwei Surveying and Mapping Technology Co, and China Aerospace Investment Holdings. The corporations’ directly subordinate unties are; China Astronautics Standards Institute, China Astronautics Publishing House, Space Archives, Aerospace Communication Center, China Space News, Chinese Society of Astronautics, Aerospace Talent & Exchange Center, and Aerospace Printing Office.

China Manned Space Agency

The China Manned Space Agency was formed in June 1993 and is responsible for the Chinese Manned Space Program. The director of the agency is Hao Chun and the deputy director is Lin Xiqiang. The agency also consists of the following divisions; Integrated Planning & Management Division, Scientific Program & Quality Control Division, Utilization & Development Division, Infrastructure Construction Division, and System Division.

The agency has currently flown eighteen taikonauts, Chinese astronauts, to space. They are; Cai Xuzhe, Chen Dong, Deng Qingming, Fei Junlong, Gui Haichao, Jing Haipeng, Liu Boming, Liu Wang, Liu Yang, Nie Haisheng, Tang Hongbo, Wang Yaping, Yang Liwei, Ye Guangfu, Zhai Zhigang, Zhang Lu, Zhang Xiaoguang, and Zhu Yangzhu.

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation

The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation is a state-owned enterprise that designs, develops, and manufactures spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. The corporation contributes to Chinese national projects for crewed spaceflight and Lunar exploration. The corporation was founded on the 1st of July 1999 and is headquartered in Haidian in northwest Beijing.

The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation is believed to have over one-hundred and forty-five thousand employees with a revenue of 34.07 billion United States dollars, or 247.38 billion Chinese Yuan, and assets worth 44.27 billion United States Dollars, or 321.45 billion Chinese Yuan (these figures may no longer be accurate as these figures are from 2017 and figures in Yuan was from using the exchange rate on the 1st of September 2023). The president of the corporation is Li Yue and the chairman is Gao Hongwei.