National Space Science Center, CAS

What National Space Science Center, CAS does

The National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is a government research institution established in 1958 (originally as Team 581) and headquartered in Beijing at NO.1 Nanertiao, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, with an additional Huairou campus. NSSC functions as China's primary space science hub, holding exclusive responsibility for planning, development, management, and operation of the country's space science satellite missions under CAS. It also hosts the General Office of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration of CAS, contributing payload development, space weather prediction, and science applications to the Chang'e lunar and Tianwen planetary missions. With 810 research staff, the center's technical scope covers space physics, space environment, microwave remote sensing, and space engineering technology.

NSSC's product portfolio centers on the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science and its associated missions, including DAMPE (dark matter), QUESS (quantum experiments), HXMT, ASO-S/Kuafu-1 (solar observatory), Einstein Probe, and the CAS-ESA joint SMILE mission launched in May 2026. Onboard instruments such as the SMILE Magnetometer and the SCIWL coronagraph represent NSSC's proprietary engineering capabilities. Ground-based infrastructure includes the Chinese Meridian Project—a 15-station monitoring network along 120°E longitude—and specialized systems such as a vehicular sodium wind/temperature lidar. The center also operates the National Space Science Data Center and co-manages the International Space Science Institute-Beijing (ISSI-BJ) with ISSI Bern.

NSSC operates as a non-commercial, state-funded institution. Revenue is generated entirely through Chinese government appropriations and national science program funding, with no commercial product pricing or customer billing. The end customer is effectively the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China's national space programs, supplemented by collaborative (non-paying) international research partnerships with ESA, JAXA, SB RAS, INPE Brazil, and UK space institutions. Scientific outputs are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, international conferences, COSPAR activities (for which NSSC serves as the Chinese secretariat), and the National Space Science Data Center.

Name

National Space Science Center, CAS

Legal name

National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Website

https://english.nssc.cas.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is China's primary government-funded space science hub, planning and operating satellite missions, ground-based monitoring networks, and international joint laboratories serving national space programs and global research partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Science Research and Satellite Mission Operations

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (927), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

Keywords

• Space science research
• Satellite mission operations
• Space weather monitoring
• Deep space exploration
• Space physics instrumentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Space Science Missions: Responsible for planning, development, management, and operation of China's space science satellite missions as the primary space science hub under Chinese Academy of Sciences
2. Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Program: Key contributor to China's Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Program, hosting the General Office of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration of CAS

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is China's primary space science hub, responsible for planning, development, management, and operation of space science satellite missions. It conducts research in space physics, space environment, microwave remote sensing, and space engineering technology, and contributes to China's Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Program through the General Office of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration of CAS.

Product overview

The National Space Science Center, CAS operates as China's primary space science hub managing a portfolio of space science satellite missions and ground-based research infrastructure. The Strategic Priority Program on Space Science encompasses multiple missions including DAMPE, QUESS, HXMT, ASO-S (Kuafu-1), Einstein Probe, and SMILE. SMILE, developed jointly with ESA, studies solar wind-magnetosphere interactions with magnetometer, X-ray, and UV imaging instruments. Ground-based capabilities include the Chinese Meridian Project (CMP) with 15 monitoring stations, vehicular sodium lidar, and GIMS atmospheric sounder technology. NSSC also contributes to China's Lunar and Deep Space Exploration through Chang'e and Tianwen missions, and operates ISSI-BJ for international scientific collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMILE Mission: Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer - a Chinese-ESA collaborative science mission to study solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere interaction
• Chinese Meridian Project (CMP)
• ASO-S (Kuafu-1)
• DAMPE

Products and services

• SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) A Chinese-ESA collaborative science mission designed to study the interaction between solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere, combining global imaging and in-situ measurements. Features magnetometer (MAG), soft X-ray imager (SXI), ultraviolet imager (UVI), and light ion analyzer (LIA) instruments. Targeted at space physics researchers and international space agencies.
• Kuafu-1 (ASO-S, Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory) Solar observation mission featuring the Solar Coronal Imager for WL observations (SCIWL) covering a field of view from 1.1 to 2.5 solar radii, designed to study solar activity, coronal mass ejections, and their geoeffectiveness. For solar physics and space weather research communities.
• Strategic Priority Program on Space Science - Phase 1 A comprehensive space science satellite program managed by NSSC, CAS, featuring scientific missions for space physics research including dark matter exploration, quantum experiments, microgravity research, and X-ray astronomy. For scientific research community and CAS.
• Strategic Priority Program on Space Science - Phase 2 Second phase of the Strategic Priority Program featuring missions including Tai-ji-1 for gravitational wave detection, GECAM for gamma-ray monitoring, ASO-S for solar observation, Einstein Probe for all-sky monitoring, and SMILE for solar wind-magnetosphere studies. For scientific research community.
• Chinese Meridian Project (CMP) Ground-based monitoring system for space environment, consisting of 15 stations along 120°E longitude and 30°N latitude. Monitors atmosphere from 20/30 km to several hundred kilometers, studying plasma and physical fields in solar atmosphere and interplanetary space. For national space weather research and monitoring.
• Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Program
• Space Environment Prediction Services
• International Space Science Institute-Beijing (ISSI-BJ) Jointly established by ISSI in Bern and NSSC in 2013. Provides multidisciplinary research platform through workshops, working groups, forums, and international teams for space science understanding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully developed and operated multiple space science satellite missions including DAMPE, QUESS, SJ-10, HXMT, ASO-S, and SMILE
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• International Space Science Institute Beijing (ISSI-BJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2013ISSI-BJ was jointly established by International Space Science Institute in Bern, Switzerland, and NSSC, CAS in Beijing, China in July 2013. Main function is to contribute to deeper understanding of space science mission results through multidisciplinary research using workshops, working groups, forums, international teams, and visiting scientists.
• European Space Agency (ESA) - SMILE MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a CAS-ESA collaborative science mission designed to study the interaction between solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere. Joint efforts from NSSC, Shanghai Microsatellite Innovation Center, Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering, and ESA Science and Technology Center.
• Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), BrazilmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2010Brazil's space research institute visited NSSC to discuss MoU for cooperation in space weather based on International Space Weather Meridian Project.
• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010JAXA delegation visited CSSAR to discuss space research organization and policy, expressing willingness to develop further collaboration.
• United Kingdom Space Science InstitutionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2008CSSAR signed cooperation agreements and letters of intent with UK during the 4th China-UK Workshop on Space Science and Technology, supported by China-UK Joint Laboratory of Space Science and Technology.
• European Space Agency (ESA) - Bilateral MeetingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 20074th China-ESA Bilateral Meeting on Future Space Science Collaboration organized by CNSA, CAS, ESA, and co-organized by CSSAR. Discussions specialized in Space Physics and Solar System Exploration, and Space Astronomy and Fundamental Physics.
• China-Brazil Joint Laboratory on Space WeathercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Partnership with Brazil to enhance understanding of space weather dynamics and prediction capabilities. INPE Director visited CSSAR to discuss MoU for cooperation based on International Space Weather Meridian Project.
• Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000China-Russia Joint Research Center on Space Weather was first joint research institute based on scientific cooperation agreement signed in 2000. CSSAR is Chinese lead unit and Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics in Irkutsk is Russian lead unit.
• European Space Agency (ESA) - Double Star Exploration Program (DSP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Geo-space Double Star Exploration Program collaboration with ESA's Cluster Program. Two satellites conducted research on magnetic storms from 2004 to 2007, marking China's entry into space science satellite missions.
• Chinese Committee of COSPAR (CN-COSPAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSSC acts as the secretariat of Chinese Committee of COSPAR, organizing Chinese scientists to join various academic activities including COSPAR Assemblies and publishing national reports of space science in China.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DLR: German Aerospace Center with extensive space research and Earth observation portfolio. Comparable to NSSC in instrument development and international mission participation, though DLR has a wider aeronautics remit.
• ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation manages satellite missions and planetary science (Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan). Similar role to NSSC as the national agency driving indigenous space science missions.
• CNES: French national space agency covering launch, Earth observation, and science. Broader mandate than NSSC but comparable in running national space science programs and partnering with China on missions.

Direct peers

• JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS): JAXA's space science arm, which plans and operates Japan's scientific satellites (e.g., Hinode, Akatsuki). Comparable in mission management, instrument development, and international cooperation focus; NSSC has an active MoU with JAXA.
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: NASA's lead center for Earth science, astrophysics, and heliophysics missions. Directly comparable to NSSC as the US national hub managing space science satellite missions (e.g., Fermi, James Webb operations support) and developing space science instruments.
• Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI): South Korea's government space astronomy and science institute. Comparable in scale and focus on space weather, astronomical instrumentation, and international research collaboration; emerging regional peer to NSSC.
• Space Research Institute (IKI), Russian Academy of Sciences: Russia's primary space science research institute, operating scientific missions and instruments (e.g., Spektr-RG). NSSC's China-Russia Joint Research Center on Space Weather makes it a direct peer in both science and bilateral cooperation.
• ESA ESTEC: European Space Research and Technology Centre, ESA's technical heart and counterpart to NSSC. Both manage mission development, instrument design, and international cooperation; NSSC partners with ESA on SMILE.

Emerging players

• RAL Space (UK STFC): UK's national space science lab under STFC, working on space instrumentation and Earth observation. NSSC signed cooperation agreements with UK institutions, and RAL Space represents a comparable national lab peer.

Others

• CAS Shanghai Microsatellite Innovation Center: Partner on SMILE mission; focused on small satellite platforms and engineering. An ecosystem collaborator within CAS rather than a science peer, but illustrates the broader Chinese space innovation ecosystem NSSC operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E7%A7%91%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%B6%E7%A9%BA%E9%97%B4%E7%A7%91%E5%AD%A6%E4%B8%AD%E5%BF%83

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Space Science Center, CAS