Editing Chinese space program (section)

=== Space-based solar power ===
According to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) presentation at the 2015 International Space Development Congress in Toronto, Canada, Chinese interest in [[space-based solar power]] began in the period 1990–1995. By 2013, there was a national goal, that "the state has decided that power coming from outside of the earth, such as solar power and development of other space energy resources, is to be China's future direction" and the following roadmap was identified: "In 2010, CAST will finish the concept design; in 2020, we will finish the industrial level testing of in-orbit construction and wireless transmissions. In 2025, we will complete the first 100kW SPS demonstration at LEO; and in 2035, the 100MW SPS will have an electric generating capacity. Finally in 2050, the first commercial level SPS system will be in operation at GEO."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://spacejournal.ohio.edu/issue16/ji.html|title=Online Journal of Space Communication|last1=Communication|first1=Online Journal of Space|website=spacejournal.ohio.edu|access-date=2016-05-22}}</ref>  The article went on to state that "Since SPS development will be a huge project, it will be considered the equivalent of an Apollo program for energy. In the last century, America's leading position in science and technology worldwide was inextricably linked with technological advances associated with the implementation of the Apollo program. Likewise, as China's current achievements in aerospace technology are built upon with its successive generations of satellite projects in space, China will use its capabilities in space science to assure sustainable development of energy from space."<ref name=":2" />

In 2015, the CAST team won the [[International SunSat Design Competition]] with their video of a Multi-Rotary Joint concept.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/XhgJwnpYRGc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190110093302/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhgJwnpYRGc&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhgJwnpYRGc|title=Multi-Rotary Joints SPS - 2015 SunSat Design Competition|date=July 22, 2015 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>  The design was presented in detail in a paper for the Online Journal of Space Communication.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://spacejournal.ohio.edu/issue18/cast.html | title=Online Journal of Space Communication}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spacejournal.ohio.edu/issue18/cast.html|title=Online Journal of Space Communication|last1=Communication|first1=Online Journal of Space|website=spacejournal.ohio.edu|access-date=2016-05-22}}</ref>

In 2016, Lt Gen. Zhang Yulin, deputy chief of the [[Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission|PLA armament development department of the Central Military Commission]], suggested that China would next begin to exploit Earth-Moon space for industrial development. The goal would be the construction of space-based solar power satellites that would beam energy back to Earth.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Exploiting earth-moon space: China's ambition after space station |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/07/c_135164574.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308013331/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/07/c_135164574.htm |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=2016-05-22 |website=news.xinhuanet.com}}</ref>

In June 2021, Chinese officials confirmed the continuation of plans for a geostationary solar power station by 2050. The updated schedule anticipates a small-scale electricity generation test in 2022, followed by a megawatt-level orbital power station by 2030. The gigawatt-level geostationary station will require over 10,000 tonnes of infrastructure, delivered using over 100 Long March 9 launches.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-super-heavy-rocket-to-construct-space-based-solar-power-station/ |title=China's super heavy rocket to construct space-based solar power station |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=June 28, 2021 |access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref>