China to make new breakthroughs in space exploration in 2026: aerospace scientists

China is set to make new breakthroughs in space exploration in the near future, said leading researchers at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

Among the most critical space missions scheduled this year and next, China will launch its latest lunar probe and its Hubble-class Xuntian Space Telescope, as well as hundreds of satellites to support its Guowang broadband constellation.

"This year, we will send the Chang'e-7 probe to the Moon. There will be another space station mission next year, which might be the most valuable space station project in the history of science, and it will be launched by the Long March-5B rocket," said rocket designer Feng Shaowei from China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology of the CASC.

Chang'e-7 will explore the Moon's south pole, focusing on locating water ice and other resources in anticipation of a crewed lunar landing in the future.

Meanwhile, China's Tiangong space station will continue to carry out its wide-ranging experimental research, both inside the station's laboratories and outside its walls, with the use of robotic arms. These arms are often used for research in exposing materials to space, but increasingly, they are also used to carry out complex logistical tasks, from collecting space cargo crafts to rearranging the station's solar arrays.

"In the future, our space station may see the addition of more modules to expand our application capabilities. At the same time, we will enhance the capabilities of our robotic arms, enabling them to perform even more complex tasks," said Hou Yongqing, a space station systems expert from China Academy of Space Technology of the CASC.

According to these aerospace scientists, the coming years could even see China become the second country ever to put astronauts on the moon.

"One thing we look forward to is seeing the new generation of crewed spacecraft flying into space, building a brand-new round-trip transportation platform between Earth and space for astronauts. Our manned lunar exploration project has also been making steady progress in recent years. In the near future, we will witness the footprints of the Chinese people left on the lunar surface," said Shao Limin, an expert in crewed spacecraft systems of China Academy of Space Technology.

Beyond advancing our understanding of the solar system, China's space programs are also highly consequential for life on Earth. The country's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, for instance, is increasingly used in the development of emerging industries.

"The goals for the next generation of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System are very clear. First, we will further improve the accuracy of positioning services to meet the demands of artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and other future technologies. Second, we aim to lower the barrier for users accessing the system, making it more cost-effective and efficient," said Xie Jun, a satellite navigation system expert from the academy.

China to make new breakthroughs in space exploration in 2026: aerospace scientists

China's manufacturing sector has continued to accelerate its transformation and upgrading this year, moving faster toward high-end, intelligent and green development.

The country's consumer electronics industry has recently rolled out a steady stream of new models. A smartphone now features multiple advances in high-end manufacturing, such as a domestically developed memory chip used commercially in a flagship phone for the first time, offering lower power consumption and faster data transfer, or a flexible screen capable of withstanding millions of folds without breaking.

"Ultra-thin glass, only one-third the thickness of a human hair, is supported by more than 10 core technologies, and the entire chain is independently controllable," said Qi Yanjie, deputy director of the research and development center of a high-tech enterprise in east China's Wuhu City, while introducing a smartphone screen.

China's advanced manufacturing industry has continued to expand this year. In August, the added value of high-tech manufacturing and digital product manufacturing by industrial firms above the designated size increased 16.7 percent and 15.7 percent year on year, respectively. New growth drivers contributed more than 60 percent to growth in industrial output above the designated size, becoming a key engine driving the industrial economy.

Production methods have also been upgraded. At an intelligent manufacturing base in south China's Shenzhen City, nearly 30,000 orders pour in every day, with about 90 percent involving personalized customizations.

The base handles these orders using an intelligent system that increases efficiency and reduces costs. "Our intelligent production scheduling system can coordinate the overall scheduling of 300 million materials, and can basically complete the process from order intake to product shipping within 24 hours," said Liu Chuchun, head of the intelligent manufacturing base.

To date, China has built more than 56,000 basic-level smart factories, and artificial intelligence technologies have been adopted by over 30 percent of industrial enterprises above the designated size.

China's rising high-end manufacturing momentum not only strengthens the foundations of the domestic industrial economy, but also provides strong impetus for exports.

In August, the exports value of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased 11.1 percent year on year, maintaining double-digit growth for five consecutive months, with high-end equipment products serving as the main engine of foreign trade growth. "High-tech products such as photovoltaic modules, wind power equipment, high-end machine tools and industrial robots have become new calling cards for Chinese manufacturing going global, effectively contributing to technological progress, industrial upgrading and green transformation in other countries," said Ji Jianjun, a research fellow with the Institute for International Economic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission.

China's manufacturing sector moves further up value chain