Space science payloads are instruments with definite performance, utilized to explore the unknown world. Due to lack of engineering experience the payload team, mainly composed of space scientists, is facing significantly increasing difficulty and complexity in solving key technologies of science payloads. China has thus established a management mode of payload principleinvestigator (PI) system for space science missions, with emphases on managerial requirements for key technology and payload calibration, fully carried out ground test verification, upgraded payload-management level, and payload development. All science payloads are required to be fully verified by pre-flight experiments. All the measures have significantly stimulated scientific innovation, reduced technical risks, promoted organic integration of science and technology, science and engineering, comprehensively given impetus to quality management, and promoted major achievements. Based on the successful practice of payload-management, this paper puts forward some relevant thoughts on the implementation of payload PI system and data PI system.

space science mission  /  space science satellite  /  scientific payload  /  program management