Space science as one of the three major fields of China's space programs plays the key role in the construction of a first-class S&T power nation. Along with a brief review on the science mission profiles of the United States and European Space Agency, this paper states that China's space science has entered into a new era and that the guidance of major scientific goals and great science excellence have become the main principles for solicitation, selection and implementation of China's science missions. Over the past decade, the strategic priority program (SPP) on space science has taken the lead in establishing China's scientific satellite series and produced a number of original scientific achievements. The China manned space program(CMSP) and China's lunar and deep space exploration program(CLDSEP) have also achieved influential scientific & engineering outcomes. Considering space scientific missions as the most important platform for basic research, this paper once again calls on the deployment of more scientific satellites in China’ s space program to yield world-leading scientific breakthroughs.

space science  /  scientific satellites  /  space strength  /  S&T power nation