China's space station made steady progress in the development of scientific research and application in 2025, according to a report issued by China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) on Thursday. The report focuses on areas such as space life sciences and human research, microgravity physics, and new space technologies and applications. It features 33 representative scientific research and application outcomes that have shown remarkable progress, alongside relevant popular science activities.
Since China's manned space program entered the application and development phase, China has successfully completed six manned spaceflight missions, four cargo supply missions, and five spacecraft return missions. Notably, it has successfully conducted its first emergency mission.
Six astronaut crews, totaling 18 astronauts, have been stationed in orbit, performing 13 extravehicular activities (EVAs) and multiple EVAs using payloads, in addition to numerous extravehicular maintenance tasks. These efforts have reset the world record for the longest single extravehicular activity by astronauts.
The selection of the fourth batch of reserve astronauts, including payload experts from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, was completed, and the development of a low-cost cargo transportation system was initiated.
Preliminary statistics indicate that in 2025, scientific teams across various fields published over 230 high-level SCI papers and obtained more than 70 patents. Through in-depth experimental research and application exploration, several results have been transferred, converted, and promoted, significantly advancing the rapid development of space science and applications in China.
China's space station makes steady progress in scientific research, applications in 2025
China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.
The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.
Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.
Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.
The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.
Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.
"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.
China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth
