What is the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and Why is It Important?

Architect of a Nation’s Space Ambitions

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) stands as the primary contractor for China’s ambitious and rapidly expanding space program. It’s a state-owned enterprise that functions as a sprawling conglomerate, responsible for the design, development, and manufacture of a vast array of space systems. These include launch vehicles, satellites, crewed spacecraft, and deep space probes, as well as strategic and tactical missile systems. CASC’s activities are central to China’s national identity, its technological advancement, and its growing influence on the world stage. The corporation doesn’t just build hardware; it orchestrates the missions that place that hardware in orbit and beyond, making it the principal force behind every major Chinese space achievement of the last quarter-century.

From the silent orbits of communication satellites to the historic landing on the far side of the Moon, CASC’s fingerprints are on every piece of the puzzle. It operates as a self-contained ecosystem, with numerous subordinate academies, research institutes, and manufacturing facilities spread across China. This vertical integration gives it control over nearly every aspect of a mission’s life cycle, from initial concept and research to production, launch, and in-orbit operations. Its portfolio is incredibly diverse, encompassing civilian, military, and commercial applications of space technology. Understanding CASC is essential to understanding the trajectory of China’s space program and its long-term goals, which extend from Earth orbit to the Moon, Mars, and the deeper reaches of the solar system.

From Humble Origins to a Global Powerhouse

CASC’s roots are deeply intertwined with the founding of China’s space endeavors in the mid-20th century. The story begins on October 8, 1956, with the establishment of the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense. This nascent organization was tasked with developing the nation’s missile technology, a priority set by the country’s leadership with the assistance of the Soviet Union. The Fifth Academy was led by Qian Xuesen, a brilliant scientist who had returned to China after a distinguished career in the United States at institutions like MIT and Caltech. His expertise was instrumental in laying the groundwork for China’s rocketry programs.

Throughout the following decades, the organization underwent a series of transformations, reflecting the shifting political and economic landscapes of the country. It was reorganized into the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building in 1965, a move that consolidated various research and production entities under a single ministerial umbrella. This structure oversaw the early milestones of China’s space program, including the development of the first Long March rocket. On April 24, 1970, a Long March 1 rocket successfully launched China’s first satellite, Dong Fang Hong I, into orbit, making China the fifth nation to achieve independent satellite launch capability.

Further reforms in the 1980s led to the creation of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry, which was later split into two state-owned corporations in 1993: the China Aerospace Corporation and the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The China National Space Administration (CNSA) was established to serve as the governmental agency responsible for policy and international cooperation, filling a role similar to that of NASAin the United States. The China Aerospace Corporation, on the other hand, retained the vast research, development, and manufacturing capabilities.

The modern CASC came into being in July 1999 during a major restructuring of China’s state-owned defense enterprises. The China Aerospace Corporation was split into two separate entities to foster internal competition and improve efficiency: CASC and the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). CASC inherited the primary responsibilities for space systems, including launch vehicles and spacecraft, as well as certain strategic missile programs. CASIC focused more on missile defense systems, cruise missiles, and other aerospace products. This division of labor has largely remained in place, with CASC serving as the nation’s premier space contractor.

A Vertically Integrated Conglomerate

CASC’s organizational structure is complex, reflecting its massive scale and the breadth of its operations. It is not a single company but a holding group that oversees a network of major academies, specialized professional companies, and publicly listed subsidiaries. This structure allows it to maintain control over the entire supply chain, from raw materials and basic components to the final assembly of sophisticated space systems.

The core of CASC’s research and development strength lies within its major academies. These are large, specialized institutes that function almost as self-contained companies, each with a specific focus. Some of the most prominent academies include:

• China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT): Often referred to as the First Academy, CALT is the primary designer and manufacturer of the Long March family of rockets. Based in Beijing, it is responsible for the development of most of China’s liquid-fueled launch vehicles, which are the workhorses of the space program. CALT also plays a significant role in the development of strategic missiles.
• Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology (AASPT): Known as the Fourth Academy, AASPT is the leading developer of solid-propellant rocket motors in China. These motors are used in smaller Long March variants, such as the Long March 11, and are critical for military applications, including ballistic missiles.
• China Academy of Space Technology (CAST): The Fifth Academy, CAST is the main developer and manufacturer of Chinese spacecraft. Its portfolio is extensive, covering nearly every type of satellite and probe. It designed the Dong Fang Hong series of communications satellites, the Shenzhou crewed spacecraft, the Tiangong space laboratories, the modules for the Tiangong space station, and the Chang’elunar probes.
• Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST): The Eighth Academy, SAST, serves as a secondary hub for both launch vehicle and spacecraft development. It complements the work of CALT and CAST, developing certain Long March rocket models (like the Long March 2D, 4, and 6) and a variety of satellites, including the Fengyun weather satellites. This internal redundancy and regional distribution of capabilities is a key feature of China’s space industry.
• Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology (AALPT): As the Sixth Academy, AALPT specializes in liquid-propellant rocket engines. It designs and manufactures the engines that power the Long March rockets, from the reliable, hypergolic-fueled engines of the older models to the advanced cryogenic engines that power the new-generation Long March 5 and 7.

Beyond these major academies, CASC also operates numerous specialized companies that provide critical components and services, such as electronics, materials, and ground support equipment. This deep vertical integration ensures that CASC has domestic control over its supply chain, insulating it from external geopolitical pressures and fostering indigenous innovation.

The Pillars of CASC’s Business

CASC’s operations are organized around several core business areas, each representing a key pillar of China’s space and defense infrastructure.

Space Transportation Systems

The cornerstone of any space program is reliable access to orbit, and CASC’s Long March family of rockets provides that capability for China. Developed and operated by CALT and SAST, the Long March series has grown into a diverse and capable fleet of launch vehicles.

The older generation of Long March rockets, including the Long March 2, 3, and 4 series, have been the backbone of the program for decades. These rockets primarily use a toxic but reliable combination of hypergolic propellants (dinitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine). They have been responsible for hundreds of launches, including all of China’s crewed missions to date, which use the human-rated Long March 2F.

To meet the demands of heavier payloads and more ambitious missions, CASC developed a new generation of rockets. These rockets use more environmentally friendly and higher-performance propellants, primarily kerosene and liquid oxygen (kerolox) or liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen (hydrolox).

• The Long March 5 is China’s heavy-lift launch vehicle, comparable in capability to the American Delta IV Heavy or Falcon Heavy. It is essential for launching large space station modules, deep space probes, and heavy geostationary satellites. Its successful development was a prerequisite for the Tiangong space station and the Tianwen-1 Mars mission.
• The Long March 7 is a medium-lift rocket designed to replace older models and serve as the workhorse for launching cargo to the Tiangong space station. It uses kerolox propellant in its core stage and boosters.
• The Long March 6 is a light-lift rocket, also using kerolox engines, designed for launching small satellites, often in constellations, into low Earth orbit.
• The Long March 11 is a solid-fueled, rapid-response rocket that can be launched from a mobile platform on land or at sea, providing China with a flexible and quick launch capability.

CASC is also actively developing next-generation systems, including a super-heavy-lift rocket, currently known as the Long March 9, intended for future crewed lunar missions and other large-scale deep space exploration. There is also significant research into reusable launch vehicle technology, a field where private companies like SpaceX currently dominate.

Satellites and Spacecraft

CASC, primarily through its CAST and SAST academies, designs and builds a vast fleet of satellites that serve a wide range of functions. These space assets are critical for China’s economy, national security, and scientific research.

• Navigation Satellites: One of CASC’s most significant achievements is the development of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. BeiDou is China’s independent global navigation satellite system, an alternative to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia’s GLONASS, and Europe’s Galileo. CASC built all the satellites for the constellation, which provides global positioning, navigation, and timing services for both civilian and military users. The completion of the BeiDou network in 2020 was a major milestone, granting China strategic autonomy in this domain.
• Communications Satellites: CASC manufactures the Dong Fang Hong (DFH) series of communications satellite platforms. These platforms form the basis for a wide variety of commercial and military communication satellites placed in geostationary orbit. They provide television broadcasting, broadband internet access, and secure communication links across China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
• Earth Observation Satellites: CASC produces several series of remote sensing and Earth observation satellites. The Gaofen series is a key part of the China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS), providing high-resolution optical and radar imagery for land planning, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and national security. The Fengyun series of meteorological satellites provides critical weather forecasting data, while the Ziyuan and Haiyang series focus on Earth resources and ocean monitoring, respectively.
• Scientific and Technology Demonstration: CASC also builds spacecraft for scientific research and to test new technologies. These include missions for space science, such as the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope, and experimental satellites like the Shijian series, which are used to validate new satellite platforms, components, and in-orbit capabilities.

Human Spaceflight

CASC is at the heart of China’s human spaceflight endeavors, a program designed to demonstrate technological prowess and establish a permanent human presence in low Earth orbit. The program, known as Project 921, has proceeded in a methodical, step-by-step fashion.

The Shenzhou program is China’s crewed spaceflight initiative. The Shenzhou spacecraft, developed by CAST, is a three-module vehicle whose design is similar to the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. It consists of an orbital module, a reentry module for the crew, and a service module with propulsion and power systems. CASC’s Long March 2F rocket, a human-rated variant of the Long March 2, has been the exclusive launch vehicle for all Shenzhou missions. Since Yang Liwei‘s historic flight in 2003, Shenzhou missions have successfully carried multiple crews, or “taikonauts,” into orbit, performed spacewalks, and conducted orbital docking maneuvers.

The culmination of these efforts is the Tiangong space station. CASC built all the major components of this large, modular orbital outpost. The program began with two prototype space laboratories, Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2, which were used to test docking and life-support technologies. The permanent station began construction in 2021 with the launch of the Tianhe core module. This was followed by the launch of two laboratory modules, Wentian and Mengtian, all delivered by CASC’s Long March 5B rocket. The station is resupplied by the Tianzhou automated cargo spacecraft, launched on a Long March 7 rocket. CASC is responsible for the ongoing manufacturing and launch services that support the station’s long-term operation and habitation.

Lunar and Deep Space Exploration

CASC provides the hardware for China’s increasingly ambitious robotic exploration of the solar system. The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, named after the moon goddess Chang’e, has achieved a series of remarkable successes.

• Chang’e 1 and 2 were orbiters that mapped the lunar surface.
• Chang’e 3, in 2013, performed China’s first soft landing on the Moon and deployed the Yutu rover.
• Chang’e 4 achieved a historic first in 2019 by landing on the far side of the Moon, a technically challenging feat that required a relay satellite to maintain communication with Earth.
• Chang’e 5, in 2020, executed a complex robotic sample-return mission, collecting lunar material and returning it to Earth for the first time in over four decades.

CASC built the orbiters, landers, rovers, and ascent vehicles for all these missions, as well as the Long March rockets that launched them. The program is now moving toward establishing a robotic research station at the Moon’s south pole, with future missions planned to test key technologies for a long-term presence.

Beyond the Moon, CASC facilitated China’s first independent interplanetary mission, Tianwen-1. Launched in 2020 on a Long March 5 rocket, the mission successfully sent an orbiter, a lander, and a rover named Zhurongto Mars. The successful deployment of the rover made China only the second country to operate such a vehicle on the Martian surface. Future deep space missions being developed by CASC include a Mars sample-return mission, an asteroid sample-return and comet rendezvous mission, and a probe to explore the Jupiter system.

Defense and Missile Systems

While its space activities attract the most public attention, CASC remains a foundational element of China’s defense industry. It is a major developer and producer of strategic and tactical missile systems for the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force. This includes intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that form the backbone of China’s nuclear deterrent. The technologies used in these systems, particularly in solid and liquid propulsion, guidance, and reentry vehicles, are often synergistic with those used in space launch vehicles. This dual-use nature of rocketry has been a feature of all major space powers, and CASC’s role reflects this reality. Its contributions are a key component of China’s national defense posture.

Launch Sites and Ground Infrastructure

CASC’s activities are supported by a network of space launch centers across China, each chosen for specific geographical advantages. While CASC does not operate the launch sites directly—they are run by the People’s Liberation Army—its rockets are exclusively launched from them.

• Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center: Located in the Gobi Desert, this is China’s oldest launch site and the home of its human spaceflight program. All Shenzhou missions launch from Jiuquan. Its inland location and dry climate are suitable for crewed launches.
• Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center: Situated in a more mountainous region, Taiyuan is primarily used for launching satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits, which are ideal for meteorological and reconnaissance satellites.
• Xichang Satellite Launch Center: Located in a hilly region with a more southern latitude, Xichang has historically been the main site for launching communications satellites into geostationary transfer orbits.
• Wenchang Space Launch Site: China’s newest and most advanced launch center, located on the coastal island of Hainan. Its low latitude (around 19 degrees north) is its biggest advantage, as it allows rockets to get a greater velocity boost from the Earth’s rotation. This is particularly beneficial for launching heavy payloads. Wenchang is the exclusive launch site for the new-generation Long March 5 and 7 rockets and is the gateway for the Tiangong space station and deep space missions. Its coastal location also means that spent rocket stages can fall into the sea rather than on land, improving safety.

International Standing and Future Trajectory

CASC operates in a complex global environment marked by both cooperation and intense competition. On the one hand, it engages in commercial launch services, offering to launch satellites for other countries and international companies. It has provided launch services for nations in Asia, Africa, and South America. CASC also participates in international forums and has collaborated with agencies like the European Space Agency (ESA) on certain scientific missions.

On the other hand, CASC is a direct competitor to established aerospace giants like Boeing and Airbus, as well as national space agencies like NASA and Russia’s Roscosmos. The rise of the private space industry, particularly SpaceX with its reusable rockets, has introduced a new dynamic. SpaceX’s lower launch costs present a significant challenge to CASC’s position in the commercial launch market. In response, CASC is accelerating its own research into reusable technologies.

Furthermore, CASC’s activities are constrained by geopolitical factors. U.S. regulations, for instance, severely restrict the export of sensitive technologies to China and prohibit NASA from engaging in bilateral cooperation with Chinese entities without explicit congressional approval. This has largely excluded China from collaborative programs such as the International Space Station, which involves a partnership of multiple nations. In response, China, through CASC, has positioned its Tiangong space station as an alternative platform for international cooperation, inviting scientists from other countries to conduct experiments aboard.

Looking ahead, CASC’s roadmap is ambitious. Key long-term goals include:

• Crewed Lunar Program: Developing the Long March 9 super-heavy-lift rocket and a new-generation crewed spacecraft to land Chinese taikonauts on the Moon, likely around 2030.
• International Lunar Research Station (ILRS): A joint initiative with Russia and other partners to build a robotic, and eventually human-tended, base at the lunar south pole.
• Expanded Deep Space Exploration: Follow-up missions to Mars, Jupiter, and the edges of the solar system.
• Growth of Space Applications: Building out satellite constellations for global broadband internet and enhancing the capabilities and commercial services of the BeiDou network.

Summary

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is far more than just a manufacturer of rockets and satellites. It is the engine of a national project that has propelled China into the top tier of spacefaring nations in just a few decades. Through its vast network of research academies and production facilities, CASC has systematically mastered the technologies required for access to space, human spaceflight, satellite applications, and robotic deep space exploration. Its achievements, from building the BeiDou network to landing on the far side of the Moon and constructing a permanent space station, reflect a long-term, state-directed strategy. As CASC continues to develop more advanced capabilities and pursue ever more ambitious goals, it will remain a central player in shaping the future of space exploration and technology in the 21st century.