2026 marks the 70th anniversary of China’s space program.
70 years ago, China began building its space capabilities. In 1970, its first artificial Earth satellite, Dongfanghong-1, was successfully launched from Jiuquan, making China the fifth country in the world, after the now-defunct Soviet Union, the US, France, and Japan, to independently develop and launch an artificial satellite.
China’s space sector has since moved toward a future defined by interconnected satellite networks. Its development model has also changed, from concentrating national resources on major missions to one shaped by both state guidance and market-driven innovation.
This year, satellite internet was incorporated into China’s five-year plan and included in the national system of 109 major engineering projects.
More importantly, China’s commercial space sector is now at a turning point, shifting from investment-driven growth to revenue-driven growth.
