China Launches Space-Origin Science Satellite Program to Search for the Origins of Life in the Universe

China’s space-origin science satellite program is launching a dedicated fleet to probe the origins of life, the universe, and space weather.

Key Points

Program Overview: New fleet of frontier science satellites

At a results briefing today (November 24, 2025), organizers from the National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Guojia Kongjian Kexue Zhongxin 国家空间科学中心, CAS) announced that during the 15th Five‑Year period China will implement a coordinated “space-origin science satellite” program.

The program will concentrate on frontier questions such as the origin of the universe, the origin of space weather, and the origin of life.

The new program package will include missions and initiatives referred to in Chinese as the “Hongmeng Plan” (Hongmeng jihua 鸿蒙计划), Kuafu‑2 (Kuafu er hao 夸父二号), an exoplanet Earth survey (xiwai diqiu xuntian 系外地球巡天), and an enhanced X‑ray time‑domain and polarization space observatory (zengqiang xing X‑shexian shibian yu pianzhhen kongjian tiantian tai 增强型X射线时变与偏振空间天文台), among others.

The program aims for breakthroughs in studying the cosmic dark ages, solar magnetic activity cycles, and detections of Earth‑like exoplanets.

Why this matters: These mission names signal a multi-pronged strategy — from high‑sensitivity X‑ray surveys to targeted exoplanet searches — designed to produce discoveries across astrophysics, heliophysics, and astrobiology.

From “keeping pace” to “leading” in multiple directions

Officials said steady progress across these science satellite missions will help China’s space science transition from “running alongside” to taking the lead in a number of fields.

The plan is intended to produce more high‑impact, original scientific discoveries and to underpin China’s strategy for higher‑level technological self‑reliance in space science, technology, and applications—contributing to the nation’s broader goals of becoming a leading spacefaring and scientific power.

Investor & founder takeaway: The emphasis on original discoveries plus technological self‑reliance signals opportunities for suppliers, payload developers, and international research collaborations.

Major achievements under the space science pilot special project

Since the space science pilot special project launched in 2011, China has designed and launched eight major science satellites, including:

• DAMPE (Wukong 悟空号, Dark Matter Particle Explorer)
• Shijian‑10 (Shijian shi hao 实践十号)
• Micius (Mozi 墨子号)
• Insight‑HXMT (Huiyan 慧眼号, Hard X‑ray Modulation Telescope)
• Taiji‑1 (Taiji yi hao 太极一号)
• Huairou‑1 (Huairou yi hao 怀柔一号)
• Kuafu‑1 (Kuafu yi hao 夸父一号)
• Tianguan (Tianguan 天关)

These missions produced a string of original scientific results—many Chinese firsts and some world firsts—and helped move China’s space science from following to competing with and in some areas leading the international community.

The program has also accelerated development of advanced payloads and satellite platform technologies.

Practical implication: A track record of eight major satellites since 2011 shows rapid maturation in mission design, payload integration, and operations — a foundation that the new program will scale.

Technological and institutional progress

Technical advances achieved under the program include star‑to‑ground optical path alignment breakthroughs, construction of China’s first international‑standard X‑ray calibration beamline, and the development of internationally competitive wide‑field, high‑sensitivity lobster‑eye X‑ray telescopes.

Teams accomplished integrated platform‑and‑payload designs that improved mission performance.

Institutionally, the project adopted a new mission governance model—“chief scientist + dual engineering chiefs”—and cultivated high‑level scientific and engineering talent, including many young researchers taking on major responsibilities.

The initiative strengthened China’s space science discipline system and laboratory infrastructure, laying a firm foundation for follow‑on missions.

The project also expanded multi‑level international cooperation.

Notably, the “Smile” satellite represented the first mission‑level, full‑lifecycle deep cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Tianguan (Tianguan 天关), led by China with ESA, Germany, and France participation, marked ESA’s first involvement in a Chinese space science mission as an “opportunity” project.

International scientific teams and data‑sharing arrangements have expanded the global impact of China’s space satellites.

What this signals: The blend of stronger governance, younger leadership, and growing international partnerships suggests China is building both technical depth and global scientific influence — useful context for investors and collaborators assessing long‑term programs.

Selected scientific breakthroughs

New types of X‑ray transients

Tianguan (Tianguan 天关) discovered a new class of X‑ray transient, designated EP241021a, offering key clues to the nature of these mysterious short‑lived sources.

The satellite also detected a faint X‑ray burst inside the Milky Way, EP240904a, opening a new route to identifying stellar‑mass black holes.

Following autonomous trigger and automatic follow‑up capabilities, Tianguan recorded EP240801a—an event that challenges conventional gamma‑ray burst classification.

Quick read: Tianguan’s autonomous trigger and follow‑up pipeline is paying scientific dividends, producing discoveries that refine how the community classifies transient high‑energy events.

Insight‑HXMT (Huiyan 慧眼号) results

Insight‑HXMT (Huiyan 慧眼号) delivered important findings across several domains: precise measurements of atmospheric density in Earth’s upper atmosphere, insights into the emission mechanisms of accreting black hole outbursts in the Milky Way, radiation and surface magnetic field diagnostics of accreting millisecond pulsars, ignition locations for thermonuclear burning on neutron star surfaces, and the minimum variability timescales of the brightest gamma‑ray bursts.

Technical note: These results demonstrate the value of wide‑band X‑ray observatories for both astrophysics and near‑Earth science.

Huairou‑1 (怀柔一号) discoveries

Huairou‑1 (怀柔一号) identified a new subclass within gamma‑ray bursts produced by compact‑object mergers, extending knowledge of electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational waves.

The mission revealed a novel eruption mode for magnetars, offering fresh constraints on their outburst mechanisms, and found a set of periodic particle‑precipitation events that deepen understanding of the near‑Earth radiation environment.

Why founders and tech teams care: Instruments that tie transients to gravitational wave events show how space observatories are central to multi‑messenger astronomy — an area that will need fast data pipelines, AI classification, and cloud infrastructure.

DAMPE (Wukong 悟空号) measures boron spectrum hardening

DAMPE (Wukong 悟空号) made the world’s first precise measurement of the secondary cosmic‑ray boron spectrum above 1 TeV/nucleon (TeV/n), and with high statistical confidence (8σ) discovered a hardening feature in that spectrum.

The change in the boron spectral index is roughly twice the magnitude of the index changes observed for primary cosmic rays such as protons and helium, suggesting propagation effects may play a major role—an important clue for cosmic‑ray transport theories.

Scientific impact: A high‑confidence (8σ) detection is substantial; DAMPE’s result pushes theorists to refine propagation models rather than only source models when explaining spectral features.

Kuafu‑1 (夸父一号) revises solar eruption associations

Kuafu‑1 (夸父一号) observations revealed an anomalously low association rate between high‑energy C‑class solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

Among 127 high‑energy C‑class flares studied, only 5 had associated CMEs, and all were narrow CMEs driven by jets.

This unexpected result offers new perspectives on solar eruption mechanisms and the origin of high‑energy particles.

Operational relevance: If certain types of high‑energy flares are less likely to produce CMEs, this could refine space‑weather forecasting models and influence how satellite operators plan risk mitigation.

Outlook

The National Space Science Center (CAS) emphasized that the new space-origin science satellite program will continue China’s concentrated efforts across multiple cutting‑edge fields, integrating science, technology, and engineering to accelerate original discoveries.

With the planned missions and continuing international cooperation, China’s space science community aims to make further landmark contributions to fundamental questions such as the origin of life, the physics of compact objects, cosmic‑ray propagation, and the drivers of solar activity.

Final perspective for investors, founders, and researchers: The program combines proven mission experience, new governance models, and deepening international ties.

Watch for:

• Mission launches and timelines for Hongmeng Plan and Kuafu‑2.
• Data releases from enhanced X‑ray and exoplanet surveys that will feed global research teams.
• Partnership opportunities in payload development, calibration, and data processing.

China’s space‑origin science satellite program is positioning the country to contribute original discoveries on the origins of life, the universe, and near‑Earth space phenomena.

China’s space-origin science satellite program

References

• 我国将开展太空探源科学卫星计划 探寻宇宙生命起源 – 央视新闻客户端
• 我国将开展太空探源科学卫星计划 探寻宇宙生命起源 – 东方财富
• National Space Science Center – Chinese Academy of Sciences (国家空间科学中心)