China's quantum satellite. (Photo : CNSA)
China plans to make major discoveries and breakthroughs in frontier areas of space science, said a recently released government white paper.
The white paper revealed China will implement a series of new space science satellite programs over the next five years.
The paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2016" also detailed China's key achievements over the past five years and its plans for the next five years.
Chinese scientists will seek evidence proving the existence of dark matter. They intend to use dark matter particle exploration satellites to detect high-energy electrons and high-energy gamma rays in the Universe.
China also plans to launch a hard X-ray modulation telescope to study the matter dynamics and high-energy radiation processes in the strong gravitational field of compact celestial bodies and black holes.
Chinese scientists will also study large-scale structure and interaction models of solar wind and the magnetosphere, and the response to magnetospheric substorm change process.
Chinese scientists will use the Shijian-10 recoverable satellite; Chang'e lunar probes; Shenzhou spacecraft; the Tiangong-2 space laboratory and Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft to implement scientific experiments and research in biology, life sciences, medicine and materials in space.
China will also carry out quantum experiments in space, said the white paper.
China will conduct basic research into sun-earth space environment; space climate and solar activity and its impact on space climate. It will also implement space-related interdisciplinary research.
The white paper said China will perform experiments on new space technologies to provide solid technological support for its space industry.
The 11,000-word white paper noted China's achievements in space over the past five years. These achievements include the successful debut of the heavy-lift rocket Long March 5; a new coastal launch site; a dark matter-hunting satellite and a quantum science satellite.
China is now preparing for Moon and Mars missions. It's once again aiming for the Moon, with planned lunar missions in 2017 and 2018.
