Want to fly to the sky and walk shoulder to shoulder with the sun? China has a plan!

Regarding China's future deep space exploration plans, Wu Weiren, member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chief designer of China's lunar exploration project, said in an interview that China is organizing experts to deepen the demonstration of the solar system edge exploration plan, and plans to achieve 100 astronomical units, or 15 billion kilometers of deep space exploration by 2049.

Wu Weiren said that deep space exploration is a commanding height in the aerospace field. Whether in terms of technical difficulty, scale or scientific contribution, it is at the forefront. China has always strongly supported deep space exploration.

Regarding China's future deep space exploration plans, Wu Weiren said: "We hope to achieve Mars sample return by 2030, which is much more difficult than the lunar sample return, and it requires a launch vehicle with greater thrust. China is also preparing to conduct marginal exploration of the solar system. The sun is about 150 million kilometers away from the earth, which is an astronomical unit. We plan to achieve the 'double hundred' goal in 2049, that is, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of New China, to complete 100 astronomical units, or 15 billion kilometers of deep space exploration."

In addition, deep space exploration also includes the defense of near-Earth asteroids. Wu Weiren said that an asteroid hitting the Earth is an event with "extremely low probability and great harm". For some near-Earth asteroids, especially those that may hit the Earth or pose a threat to the Earth, detection, early warning, defense and disposal should be carried out. China has already started relevant research.

Talking about the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, which was unveiled at the end of February, Wu Weiren said that the reason for establishing the laboratory is, first, to support China's major deep space exploration projects, second, to carry out cutting-edge, basic and strategic research in the deep space field, and third, to form a force that can conduct in-depth demonstrations of subsequent deep space exploration projects or cutting-edge projects and propose implementation plans. This is the main task of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory.

"The establishment of a deep space exploration laboratory is just a start. We hope that it can become a highland for attracting domestic and foreign talents and a demonstration of innovation in scientific and technological systems and mechanisms." Wu Weiren said that he also hopes that the laboratory can become an internationally renowned innovation institution in the field of deep space exploration science and technology. It has a heavy mission and a good prospect.

Source: Communist Youth League Central Committee

Editor: Chen Yuwen

Proofread by Wu Yiwei

Proofread by Sun Xiaoqian

On-duty editor: Zhong Yanan

Looking forward to China's deep space exploration plan!