Editing Chinese space program (section)

===Early years (1950s to mid-1970s)===
[[File:Tsien Hsue-shen.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Qian Xuesen, the forefather of Chinese space program|[[Qian Xuesen]], the forefather of Chinese space program]]
The Chinese space program began in the form of missile research in the 1950s. After its birth in 1949, the newly founded People's Republic of China was in pursuit of missile technology to build up the nation's defense for the [[Cold War]]. In 1955, [[Qian Xuesen]] ({{Zh|s=钱学森|labels=no}}), the world-class rocketry scientist, returned to China from the United States. In 1956, Qian submitted a proposal for the development of China's missile program, which was approved in just a few months. On October 8, China's first missile research institute, the Fifth Research Academy under the Ministry of National Defense, was established with less than 200 staff, most of which were recruited by Qian. The event was later recognized as the birth of China's space program.<ref>{{cite web |title=老五院：中国航天六十甲子的起点 |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1411844/c1412221/content.html |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |access-date=2022-10-13 |date=2016-07-29 |archive-date=2022-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015014757/http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1411844/c1412221/content.html |language=zh }}</ref>

To fully utilize all available resources, China kick-started its missile development by manufacturing a licensed copy of two Soviet [[R-2 (missile)|R-2 missiles]], which were secretly shipped to China in December 1957 as part of the cooperative technology transfer program between the [[Soviet Union]] and China. The Chinese version of the missile was given the code name "1059" with the expectation of being launched in 1959. But the target date was soon postponed due to various difficulties arising from the sudden withdrawal of Soviet technical assistance due to the [[Sino-Soviet split]].<ref name=1059missle>{{cite web |title=1059：东风破晓开天地 |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1411844/c1412208/content.html |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |access-date=2022-10-13 |date=2016-08-03 |archive-date=2022-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015132920/http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1411844/c1412208/content.html |language=zh }}</ref> Meanwhile, China started constructing its first missile test site in the Gobi desert of [[Inner Mongolia]], which later became the famous [[Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center]] ({{Zh|s=酒泉卫星发射中心|labels=no}}), China's first spaceport.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

After the launch of mankind's first artificial satellite, [[Sputnik 1]], by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, Mao Zedong decided during the [[8th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) on May 17, 1958, to make China an equal of the superpowers ({{Zh|s="我们也要搞人造卫星"|l=We too need satellites}}), by adopting ''Project 581'' with the objective of placing a satellite in orbit by 1959 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PRC's founding.<ref>{{cite web |date=2007-10-16 |title=赵九章与中国卫星 |trans-title=Zhao Jiuzhang and China Satellite |url=http://www.cas.ac.cn/html/Dir/2007/10/16/15/33/09.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314030932/http://www.cas.ac.cn/html/Dir/2007/10/16/15/33/09.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=July 3, 2008 |publisher=[[中国科学院]] |language=zh}}</ref> This goal was soon proven unrealistic, and it was decided to focus on the development of [[sounding rocket]]s first.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

[[File:T-7M(1).jpg|thumb|alt=Mao Zedong inspecting a T-7M rocket after its successful launch|[[Mao Zedong]] inspecting a T-7M rocket after its successful launch]]
The first achievement of the program was the launch of [[T-7 (rocket)|T-7M]], a sounding rocket that eventually reached the height of 8&nbsp;km on February 19, 1960. It was the first rocket developed by Chinese engineers.<ref>{{cite web |title="8公里，那也了不起" |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456218/content.html |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |access-date=2022-10-13 |date=2016-09-30 |archive-date=2022-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013225216/http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456218/content.html |language=zh }}</ref> The success was praised by Mao Zedong as a good beginning of an indigenous Chinese rocket development.<ref>{{cite web |author1=宋忠保 |author2=沈慧良 |title=第一枚探空火箭发射 |url=http://www.nssc.cas.cn/ztzl2015/zgkjkxzl2015/jnwj/201609/t20160906_4659279.html |website=中国科学院国家空间科学中心 |access-date=2022-10-13 |date=2015-11-05 |archive-date=2022-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013225215/http://www.nssc.cas.cn/ztzl2015/zgkjkxzl2015/jnwj/201609/t20160906_4659279.html |language=zh }}</ref> However, all Soviet technological assistance was abruptly withdrawn after the 1960 Sino-Soviet split, and Chinese scientists continued on the program with extremely limited resources and knowledge.<ref name="futron">{{cite web|url=http://www.futron.com/upload/wysiwyg/Resources/Whitepapers/China_n_%20Second_Space_Age_1003.pdf|title=China and the Second Space Age|access-date=6 October 2011|publisher=Futron Corporation|year=2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419165427/http://www.futron.com/upload/wysiwyg/Resources/Whitepapers/China_n_%20Second_Space_Age_1003.pdf|archive-date=19 April 2012}}</ref> It was under these harsh conditions that China successfully launched the first "missile 1059", fueled by alcohol and liquid oxygen, on December 5, 1960, marking a successful imitation of Soviet missile. The missile 1059 was later renamed as ''[[Dongfeng-1]]'' (DF-1, {{Zh|s=东风一号|labels=no}}).<ref name=1059missle/>

[[File:Dongfeng-2 missile.jpg|thumb|180px|left|alt=Dongfeng-2 missile|[[Dongfeng-2]] missile]]
While the imitation of Soviet missile was still in progress, the Fifth Academy led by Qian had begun the development of ''Dongfeng-2'' (DF-2), the first missile to be designed and built completely by the Chinese. After a failed attempt in March 1962, multiple improvements, and hundreds of engine firing tests, DF-2 achieved its first successful launch on its second attempt on Jun 29, 1964 in Jiuquan. It was considered as a major milestone in China's indigenous missile development history.<ref>{{cite web |title=不信"东风"唤不回 |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456297/content.html |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |access-date=2022-10-13 |date=2016-09-30 |archive-date=2022-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014062203/http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456297/content.html |language=zh }}</ref>

In the next few years, ''Dongfeng-2'' conducted seven more launches, all ended in success. On October 27, 1966, as part of the "[[Two Bombs, One Satellite]]" project, ''Dongfeng-2A'', an improved version of DF-2, successfully launched and detonated a nuclear warhead at its target.<ref>{{cite web |title="两弹结合"壮国威 |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456363/content.html |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |access-date=6 May 2023 |language=zh |date=30 September 2016}}</ref> As China's missile industry matures, a new plan of developing [[carrier rocket]]s and launching satellites was proposed and approved in 1965 with the name ''Project 581'' changed to ''Project 651''.<ref name="danshengji">{{cite web |title=中国第一颗人造地球卫星"东方红一号"诞生记 |url=https://tech.sina.com.cn/d/2020-04-15/doc-iirczymi6456577.shtml |website=新浪网 |access-date=2022-08-28 |date=2020-04-13 |archive-date=2022-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828070739/https://tech.sina.com.cn/d/2020-04-15/doc-iirczymi6456577.shtml |language=zh }}</ref> On January 30, 1970, China successfully tested the newly developed two-stage ''[[Dongfeng-4]]'' (DF-4) missile, which demonstrated critical technologies like [[Multistage rocket|rocket staging]], engine in-flight ignition, [[Spacecraft attitude control|attitude control]].<ref>{{cite web |title=大国长剑啸东风 |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456558/content.html |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |access-date=2022-10-14 |date=2016-09-30 |archive-date=2022-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015231044/http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456558/content.html |language=zh }}</ref> The DF-4 was used to develop the [[Long March 1]] (LM-1 or CZ-1, {{Zh|s=长征一号|labels=no}}), with a newly designed spin-up orbital insertion solid-propellant rocket motor third stage added to the two existing [[Nitric acid]]/[[UDMH]] liquid propellant stages.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

China's space program benefited from the [[Third Front (China)|Third Front]] campaign to develop basic industry and national defense industry in China's rugged interior in preparation for potential invasion by the Soviet Union or the United States.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Meyskens |first=Covell F. |title=Mao's Third Front: The Militarization of Cold War China |date=2020 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-108-78478-8 |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |doi=10.1017/9781108784788 |oclc=1145096137 |s2cid=218936313}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=4, 218–219}} Almost all of China's new aerospace [[work unit]]s in the late 1960s and early 1970s were established as part of the Third Front and Third Front projects included expansion of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, building [[Xichang Satellite Launch Center]], and building [[Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center]].<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|pages=218–219}}

[[File:Dongfanghong-1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dong Fang Hong I]] - First Chinese satellite (1970)]]
On April 24, 1970, China successfully launched the 173&nbsp;kg ''[[Dong Fang Hong I]]'' ({{Zh|s=东方红一号|labels=no}}, meaning [[The East Is Red (song)|The East Is Red]] I) atop a [[Long March 1]] (CZ-1, {{Zh|s=长征一号|labels=no}}) rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It was the heaviest first satellite placed into orbit by a nation. The third stage of the Long March 1 was specially equipped with a 40 m<sup>2</sup> solar reflector ({{Zh|s=观察球|labels=no}}) deployed by the [[centrifugal force]] developed by the spin-up orbital insertion solid propellant stage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cctv.com.cn/program/tsfx/20030729/100316.shtml |title =《东方红卫星传奇》|publisher= [[China Central Television]] |date=2007-07-03|access-date=August 29, 2008}}</ref> China's second satellite was launched with the last Long March 1 on March 3, 1971. The 221&nbsp;kg [[Shijian|ShiJian-1]] (SJ-1, {{Zh|s=实践一号|labels=no}}) was equipped with a [[magnetometer]] and [[cosmic-ray]]/[[x-ray]] detectors.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In addition to the satellite launch, China also made small progress in [[human spaceflight]]. The first successful launch and recovery of a [[T-7 Sounding rocket|T-7A(S1)]] sounding rocket carrying a biological experiment (it carried eight white mice) was on July 19, 1964, from [[Base 603]] ({{Zh|s=六〇三基地|p=|labels=no}}).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://tech.tom.com/1121/1122/2005919-251565.html |title=回收生物返回舱 |publisher=雷霆万钧 |date=September 19, 2005 |access-date=July 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222025122/http://tech.tom.com/1121/1122/2005919-251565.html |archive-date=December 22, 2005 }}</ref> As the [[space race]] between the two superpowers reached its climax with the conquest of the Moon, Mao and [[Zhou Enlai]] decided on July 14, 1967, that China should not be left behind, and started China's own crewed space program.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 16, 2005|title=首批航天员19人胜出 为后来积累了宝贵的经验|url=http://tech.tom.com/1121/1122/2005916-250955.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222024152/http://tech.tom.com/1121/1122/2005916-250955.html|archive-date=December 22, 2005|access-date=July 24, 2008|publisher=雷霆万钧}}</ref> China's first spacecraft designed for human occupancy was named ''Shuguang-1'' ({{Zh|s=曙光一号|labels=no}}) in January 1968.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 5, 2005|title=第一艘无人试验飞船发射成功—回首航天路|url=http://www.cctv.com/news/china/20051005/100369.shtml|access-date=August 2, 2007|publisher=cctv.com}}</ref> [[China's Space Medical Institute]] ({{Zh|s=航天医学工程研究所|labels=no}}) was founded on April 1, 1968, and the [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]] issued the order to start the selection of astronauts. The first crewed space program, known as ''Project 714'', was officially adopted in April 1971 with the goal of sending two astronauts into space by 1973 aboard the [[Shuguang spacecraft]]. The first screening process for astronauts had already ended on March 15, 1971, with 19 astronauts chosen. But the program was soon canceled in the same year due to political turmoil, ending China's first human spaceflight attempt.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

[[File:DF-5 early model.jpg|thumb|alt=Early model of DF-5 ICBM.|Early model of [[DF-5]] ICBM]]
While CZ-1 was being developed, the development of China's first long-range [[intercontinental ballistic missile]], namely ''[[Dongfeng-5]]'' (DF-5), has started since 1965. The first test flight of DF-5 was conducted in 1971. After that, its technology was adopted by two different models of Chinese [[medium-lift launch vehicle]]s being developed. One of the two was ''[[Feng Bao 1]]'' (FB-1, {{Zh|s=风暴一号|labels=no}}) developed by [[Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology|Shanghai's 2nd Bureau of Mechanic-Electrical Industry]], the predecessor of Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). The other parallel medium-lift LV program, also based on the same DF-5 ICBM and known as ''[[Long March 2]]'' (CZ-2, {{Zh|s=长征二号|labels=no}}), was started in Beijing by the First Research Academy of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building, which later became [[China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology]] (CALT). Both FB-1 and CZ-2 were fueled by [[dinitrogen tetroxide|N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>]] and [[UDMH]], the same propellant used by DF-5.<ref name=fb1>{{cite web |title=风暴一号展雄心 |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456627/content.html |website=[[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] |access-date=2022-10-14 |date=2016-09-30 |archive-date=2022-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015231043/http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1449297/n1449403/c1456627/content.html |language=zh }}</ref>

On July 26, 1975, FB-1 made its first successful flight, placing the 1107-kilogram ''Changkong-1'' ({{Zh|s=长空一号|labels=no}}) satellite into orbit. It was the first time that China launched a payload heavier than 1 metric ton.<ref name=fb1/> Four months later, on November 26, CZ-2 successfully launched the [[Fanhui Shi Weixing-0|FSW-0 No.1]] ({{Zh|s=返回式卫星零号|labels=no}}) recoverable satellite into orbit. The satellite returned to earth and was successfully recovered three days later, making China the third country capable of recovering a satellite, after the Soviet Union and the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title="长征二号"发射首颗返回式卫星 |url=http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n790255/n790275/c803490/content.html |website=中国航天科技集团公司 |publisher=中国航天报 |access-date=2021-07-10 |date=2014-12-07 |archive-date=2021-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710163251/http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n790255/n790275/c803490/content.html |language=zh }}</ref> FB-1 and CZ-2, which were developed by two different institutes, were later evolved into two different branches of the classic [[Long March rocket family]]: Long March 4 and Long March 2.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

As part of the Third Front effort to relocate critical defense infrastructure to the relatively remote interior (away from the Soviet border), it was decided to construct a new space center in the mountainous region of [[Xichang]] in the [[Sichuan]] province, code-named [[Xichang Satellite Launch Center|Base 27]]. After expansion, the Northern Missile Test Site was upgraded as a test base in January 1976 to become the Northern Missile Test Base ({{Zh|s=华北导弹试验基地|labels=no}}) known as [[Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center|Base 25]].{{cn|date=November 2024}}