China successfully placed Dong Fang Hong 1 (“The East Is Red 1”) into orbit, becoming the fifth nation to launch an artificial satellite. The mission demonstrated that China could build satellites and launch vehicles and marked a major milestone for national science and industry.
China launched Shijian 1, described as its first scientific satellite and its second satellite overall. This helped shift China’s space activity from a single demonstration satellite toward sustained research and practical satellite missions.
China began flights of Fanhui Shi Weixing (FSW), a series of recoverable satellites used for reconnaissance and Earth observation, and later also for microgravity experiments. Recoverable satellites were important because they could return film or experiment results to Earth when digital downlink capacity was limited.
China launched an operational Dong Fang Hong 2 communications satellite into geosynchronous orbit, supporting long-distance communications and television transmission. This marked a move from early experimental satellites toward practical national infrastructure in space.
China launched Fengyun 1A, an early satellite in its polar-orbiting meteorological (weather) program. Weather satellites strengthened China’s ability to monitor storms, clouds, and climate patterns with its own space-based data.
China launched BeiDou-1A, the first satellite of its experimental BeiDou navigation system. Satellite navigation became strategically important after conflicts in the 1990s showed how GPS could shape military and civilian capabilities.
Shenzhou 5 carried Yang Liwei into orbit, making China the third country to independently send a human to space. Beyond the crewed milestone, the mission strengthened the technical base for later dockings, space labs, and space station operations.
China launched Chang’e 1, its first lunar orbiter, beginning a step-by-step lunar exploration plan. The mission mapped the Moon and helped China develop deep-space tracking, navigation, and spacecraft operations beyond Earth orbit.
During Shenzhou 7, astronaut Zhai Zhigang performed China’s first spacewalk (extravehicular activity). Spacewalk capability mattered for assembling and maintaining future spacecraft, including more complex long-duration missions.
Chang’e 3 made China’s first soft landing on another celestial body and deployed the Yutu rover. It was also the first lunar soft landing since 1976, showing China could land precisely and operate a robotic surface mission.
China launched Queqiao, a communications relay satellite placed near the Earth–Moon L2 region. Because the Moon’s far side does not face Earth, a relay satellite was needed to send commands and return data for far-side landers and rovers.
Chang’e 4 successfully landed in Von Kármán crater, becoming the first mission to soft-land on the Moon’s far side. Using the Queqiao relay, the lander and Yutu-2 rover expanded lunar science to terrain that cannot directly communicate with Earth.
China launched the final satellite needed to complete the BeiDou-3 navigation constellation for global coverage. This strengthened China’s independent positioning, navigation, and timing capability for transportation, communications, and other services.
Chang’e 5 carried out China’s first lunar sample-return mission, bringing Moon rocks and soil back to Earth. The return capsule landed in Inner Mongolia, making China the third country to return lunar material, and giving scientists new samples from a geologically different region than earlier missions.
With the arrival and relocation of the Mengtian laboratory module, China completed the basic three-module “T-shaped” assembly of the Tiangong space station. This provided a long-term platform for sustained space operations, including experiments and technology development that also support future exploration missions.
PRC Space Program: Satellites to Lunar Probes (1970–present)