Carry Forward the Space Spirit,Embrace the Sea of Stars
——China Space Conference 2020 Opened in Fuzhou

Opening ceremony of the China Space ConferencePhoto:SU Dong

The China Space Conference opened in Fuzhou,capital of Fujian province,on September 18,2020.

The four-day conference was hosted by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the China Space Foundation.The conference aims to establish a platform for international academic exchange,industry-university-research collaboration,space spirit inheritance and popularization of science.

The conference consisted of 16 events such as forums and themed exhibitions,trying to create an international,professional and market-oriented exchange and cooperation platform that integrates academic forums,industrial events,frontier displays,event roadshows,and cultural and creative experiences,comprehensively demonstrating space technology,while exploring the future vision of space,and promoting space cooperation in the world.

At the opening ceremony,Chinese researchers announced the 10 most challenging subjects for space science and technology.In addition,the state-owned space enterprises inked agreements with Fujian province on cooperation in aviation and space industries.

During the conference,academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering,distinguished researchers and industry representatives discussed various topics such as China’s development strategy for its space sector after the COVID-19 pandemic,breakthroughs in key technology fields,space-based information industry’s future as well as global space cooperation.

Top Ten Most Challenging Subjects in Space Science and Technology

1.Environmental Characteristics and Interactions between Outer Sunosphere and Interstellar Space

The heliosphere is mainly controlled by solar wind and the solar magnetic field.The outer heliosphere and interstellar space is a new field that mankind has never explored.Understanding its environmental characteristics and revealing its interaction laws and the mechanism of solar wind and the interstellar medium are of great significance to the human understanding of the solar system and promoting the sustainable development of space technology.

2.Reentry Space Vehicle Thermal Protection Materials and Life Prediction

Material science and technology has always been a basic technical subject of space technology.Thermal protection materials directly determine the performance and the life of reentry space vehicles.This technology can provide the basic guarantee for the advance,reliability and economy of the future space vehicle’s performance.

3.Nuclear-powered Spacecraft and Engineering Applications

Space nuclear power is one of the most competitive propulsion technologies for solar system exploration and interplanetary space exploration.The breakthrough of key technology for nuclear-powered spacecraft and engineering applications will have a subversive impact on the existing space technologies and meet the needs of exploration of the whole solar system.

4.In-orbit Addictive Manufacturing Technology for a Super Large Space Antenna Structure

The in-orbit addictive manufacturing technology will effectively solve the problem of the construction of a super large space antenna system in the future,providing an effective means for the in-orbit construction and maintenance of a super large space structure,and will play an important role in promoting the development and application of astronomical observation and space solar power generation in China.

5.Core Technologies for Space Debris Removal

Space debris removal is an important issue for current and future space missions.The development of this technology is not only to protect space assets,maintain human space security and resources,but also to promote the development of related high-tech innovation.

6.Space Manipulation Technology based on Deep Reinforcement Learning

Space manipulation technology is a cross-field technology between space technology and artificial intelligence technology.The application of deep reinforcement learning to aircraft space manipulation is helpful to optimize the manipulation scheme,construct a space intelligence system with a self-evolution ability,and effectively deal with the various complex environmental changes in space.

7.Integrated Design Technology for a Horizontal Take-off and Landing Vehicle and Combined Power

The integrated design technology for a horizontal take-off and landing vehicle and combined power is one of the core technologies to support the development and application of the space transportation system in the future.It will greatly enhance the ability for free access and utilization of space in China.

8.In-orbit Assembly and Maintenance Technology for Super Large Space Optical Devices

The in-orbit assembly and maintenance technology is the only way to realize super large space optical devices,which will break through the limitation of the carrier envelope and propulsion capacity,leading to a leapfrog development for super large optical remote sensors and even elastic reconfigurable optical remote sensing systems,laying the technical foundation for the development of satellite remote sensing technology and in-orbit service for China.

9.Satellite Network Communications Technology Integrated with 5G/6G Technology

The integration technology of the space-ground information network directly affects the space architecture construction and the economic and social development of China.Satellite communications and ground mobile communication have begun to merge since 5G has been introduced.In the future,6G systems,the space-ground integrated information network,will become a new economic growth point.

10.Cooperative Detection Technology of Spacecraft and Very Large Baseline Arrays

The cooperation of spacecraft detection and a very large baseline array on the ground can realize virtual telescopes of tens of thousands of kilometers.The breakthrough of this technology can greatly improve the accuracy and ability for human observation of the universe,thus further expanding the human vision and correctly understanding the origin,present and future development of the universe.