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
The Chinese naval hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, carried out a medical rescue drill in Atlantic waters during its Mission Harmony 2025, testing its capability to provide medical support during long-distance deployments.
The drill marked the vessel's first overseas medical-support exercise in unfamiliar waters in 2026, designed to simulate real-world emergency response scenarios far from home ports.
It brought together the hospital ship, a sea-based medical facility and shipborne helicopters in a coordinated rescue operation.
The exercise was conducted against a simulated backdrop of a commercial vessel in distress on the high seas with multiple casualties. After receiving the emergency signals, a shipborne helicopter immediately took off under an aerial evacuation plan, transferring simulated injured personnel to the triage area for rapid assessment and emergency treatment.
As part of the exercise, medical teams practiced a time-sensitive rescue approach, combining casualty transfer, triage and treatment to ensure prompt and accurate assessment of injuries under operational conditions.
"We followed the principle of providing treatment while transferring and carrying out triage and rescuing, ensuring that casualties are correctly assessed at the earliest time possible. If a patient is in a critical condition, we must carry out necessary emergency treatment in the triage area. Once vital signs are relatively stable, the patient is then transferred to an appropriate treatment unit," said Jiang Yingbo, a member of the Mission Harmony 2025.
Severely injured patients were transferred to intensive care units for further observation and treatment after surgery. A medical expert group then conducted timely consultations to formulate targeted treatment plans.
Under complex sea conditions in distant waters, the drill covered multiple training modules including maritime evacuation, triage, emergency treatment and surgery, strengthening the military medical ship's integrated emergency medical response, and enhancing the navy's far-sea medical support capability, according to the authorities.
Chinese navy hospital ship drills medical rescue in Atlantic waters
