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12/22/2024 10:47:59 pm

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China to Hike Funding For Space Research

China is set to hike its budget for space research. US retired astronaut Charles M. Duke delivers a speech as he visits a research center of DuPont Company with the other two astronauts Mae C. Jemison (L) and Charles F. Bolden R) on Aug. 2, 2005 in Shangh

(Photo : Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

China will have to invest at least 5.9 billion yuan ($910 million) on space research based on recommendations made by the country's scientific community.

A research report published last Mar. 17 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences underscored the need for the Central Government to do a comprehensive study on the nation's capacity to carry out its space development program, according to China Daily.

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This move will enable the country  to maximize the funds spent by the nation for its space related-initiatives, and not solely rely on a select few individuals in making decisions related to China's space research .

The research was conducted by a group of scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who  looked into the research interests of hundreds of scientists in China for the past four years and categorized them into 23 major space science programs.

"Decision-making on the country's major space science projects should not be based only on the individual opinions of government officials, or the proposal of a few prestigious scientists," said Wu Ji, director of the academy's National Space Science Center, and chief editor of the research report.

Scientists project that China's overall funding for space research and development will maintain a 2.5 percent annual growth between 2016 and 2030.

"We should carry out comprehensive research on our own space science capacity and on topics at the frontier of international science, so that the decision-makers can avoid spending State funding blindly," Wu pointed out.

 "We hope that the pace of development of space science will not lag behind other research fields, which means that the funding for scientific satellites will be no less than 5.9 billion yuan in the coming five years," he continued .

"The funding means we are likely to launch 15 to 20 scientific satellites, if not more, by 2030," Wu added.

In 2011, China launched the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science, the country's first project consisting a series of satellites that were designed purely for scientific space research in space. 

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