China issues its first standards for commercial space industry

China

China issues its first standards for commercial space industry

2026-04-25 13:37 Last Updated At：14:37

China released its first set of standards for the commercial space industry on Friday, aiming to leverage standardization's guiding role in the development of the space industry and promote high-quality development of commercial space activities.

The new standard system was issued by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the State Administration for Market Regulation in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, at the launch ceremony of the country's 11th Space Day that fell on Friday. The system focuses on carrier rockets, satellites, launch sites, application services and industry governance.

The system comprises six categories: industry governance, R&D and manufacturing, launch and TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking and Command), space application services, basic and common items, and facilities and equipment. It plans for over 1,000 standard items, covering international and national standards at various levels.

Hu Yihuai, director general of the CNSA Commercial Space Department, said the system aims to ensure the industry grows in a well-regulated and sustainable manner.

"There are now a large number of private companies eager to enter the commercial space sector. By establishing a full-chain standard system, we aim to provide these enterprises with clear guidelines to follow. This will enable our commercial space industry to grow rapidly in safe and rule-based development," she said.

The CNSA said that it will continue to optimize the top-level design of the commercial space standard system, accelerate the effective supply of commercial space standards, develop a commercial space standard service platform, and support the high-quality development of commercial space activities.

Since 2016, April 24 has been celebrated as the Space Day of China, marking the launch of its first satellite Dongfanghong-1 into space on April 24, 1970.

China to send new pair of pandas to US for conservation cooperation

China will send a new pair of giant pandas to the Zoo Atlanta in the United States under a 10-year international conservation cooperation agreement, according to the China Wildlife Conservation Association on Friday.

The association signed an international cooperative research agreement on giant panda conservation with Zoo Atlanta in the United States last year, said a press release of the association.

Under the agreement, a pair of giant pandas, Ping Ping (male) and Fu Shuang (female), from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, will travel to the United States to begin the 10-year cooperation program on giant panda conservation.

At a regular press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation between China and the United States will enhance the friendship between the people of the two countries.

"The giant panda is China's national treasure and also serves as a bridge of friendship among peoples around the world," Guo told a press briefing, adding that it is believed that the new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation between China and the United States will make new contributions to promoting the health and well-being of giant pandas, improving the ability to protect endangered species, promoting global biodiversity conservation and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.