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  • UK Intelligence & Security report- "China"

    While the U.S. government shutdown works its way through the American political system, we thought we would highlight an important report from our closest ally and friends across the Atlantic, from the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament of the United Kingdom, entitled simply

  • Trends That Impact Perceptions of the Chinese Space Program

    The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) intention to allow civilian astronauts and non-state-owned enterprise (SOE) companies to participate in the Chinese Space Station (CSS) are two trends that will probably change the global image of the Chinese space program, but which risk being overlooked with

  • Where are the PLA’s other laser dazzling facilities?

    In December 2022, U.S. researchers again updated their analysis of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) laser research, development, and testing facilities in the desert of China’s Xinjiang province.  This time, they described how their review of commercial satellite imagery had led them to

  • What is China Doing at the Lunar Distant Retrograde Orbit?

    Written by CASI's Kristin Burke, Originally published by The Space Review at: https://thespacereview.com/article/4365/1Click here for PDF versionChina’s Chang’e 5 (CE-5) orbiter, which as of January 2022 has likely moved to the lunar Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO), is probably conducting enabling

  • History of China’s Robotic Lunar Program

    In December of 1978, Deng Xiaoping gave his ground-breaking speech on China’s new policy of “reform and opening up” to the world at the 11th Party Congress. Six months previously, he had addressed an association of Chinese scientists, most of whom had been sent to the countryside for

  • China’s Space Situational Awareness Capabilities For Beyond GEO

    This paper reviews the publicly available information on China’s existing and planned ground and space-based systems for its beyond geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) missions.  This paper assumes that the PRC, like the U.S., has not needed a well optimized system for discovering, tracking, and

  • Chinese military thinking on orbits beyond GEO

    Written by CASI's Kristin Burke, originally published in The Space Review, available at: https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4387/1It is impossible to unlink the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) military perspective on orbits beyond the geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) from the US and former

  • In Their Own Words: Lectures on the Science of Space Operations

        The “In Their Own Words” series is dedicated to translations of Chinese documents in order to help non-Mandarin speaking audiences access and understand Chinese thinking. In the “In Their Own Words” series, CASI aims to provide Chinese texts that illustrate thoughtful, clearly articulated,

  • China's Space Program Through The Lens of Irregular Warfare Theory

    This article  examines the question of whether the PRC is using its space program as a method of irregular warfare with the goal of neutralizing the United States as a threat to its goal of achieving global hegemony. For purposes of this paper, a campaign of irregular warfare is defined as a

  • ITOW: Unswervingly Become the Mainstay of Building a Powerful Aerospace Power

    The “In Their Own Words” series is dedicated to translations of Chinese documents in order to help non-Mandarin speaking audiences access and understand Chinese thinking. CASI would like to thank all of those involved in this effort.In the “In Their Own Words” series, CASI and its collaborators aim

  • Systems and Infrastructure Needed to Enable A Chinese Crewed Lunar Landing

    China’s successful completion of the third phase of its Lunar Exploration Program with the Chang’e-5 lunar sample return opens a new chapter in China’s study of the Moon.  China can now prepare for a permanent base on the Moon, the International Lunar Research Station, which may start crewed

  • Initial Analysis of Two Chinese Satellite Series: Shi Jian and Shi Yan

    The Chinese satellites with the Shi Jian (SJ) and Shi Yan designators are just two categories of Chinese space vehicles on which Beijing has not elaborated in recent years.  This paper reviews their history up to 2013 to provide space watchers with an initial framework for analyzing these

  • ITOW- China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective

    "To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is our eternal dream," stated President Xi Jinping. The space industry is a critical element of the overall national strategy.In January 2022, the The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic

  • China's Spaceplane Program

    Spaceplanes are one area in which China seeks to mimic or compete with U.S. technology. Inspired by the U.S. Space Shuttle and more recently by the Boeing X-37B orbital test vehicle, China has several ongoing projects to develop reusable launch vehicles capable of flight in both air and space. While

  • Space Domain Awareness as a Strategic Counterweight

    This paper examines the role of space domain awareness (SDA) as a strategic counterweight to potential adversary and competitor actions in space. It argues that awareness of the space environment is fundamental to maintaining and protecting U.S. interests in outer space. The U.S., however, has been

  • CASI webinar on PRC Counter-Space

    CASI hosted a webinar that looked at China's Counter-Space capabilities, plans, thinking, etc. with Brian Weeden, Christopher Stone, and Todd Harrison.  You can watch the video at: https://tinyurl.com/CASI-Webinar-PRC-Counter-Space