China's space station is set to undertake more than 1,000 research projects over the next 10 to 15 years, as reported by the Center for Technology and Engineering for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on January 14, 2025.
The projects will cover 32 topics across four main fields: space life sciences and human research, microgravity physical sciences, new space technologies and applications, and space astronomy and Earth sciences.
In the microgravity physical sciences, researchers aim to investigate the mechanisms governing the microstructure and macroscopic properties of metals and alloys, potentially enhancing material development on Earth.
The Chinese space station is equipped with over 20 specialized experimental cabinets dedicated to areas such as basic biology, biotechnology, and fluid physics, along with three platforms for extravehicular experiments.
Significant research facilities are under development, including the two-meter aperture Chinese Space Telescope (CSST), which is expected to be globally competitive.
To date, more than 180 scientific and applied projects have been conducted aboard the station, with nearly two tons of scientific materials delivered and approximately 100 types of experimental samples returned to Earth.
This research has resulted in over 500 high-level publications in SCI-indexed journals and the acquisition of more than 150 patents, with many findings translated into practical applications, significantly advancing China's space science and technology.