In a landmark move for its space industry, China has established its first dedicated government body to oversee commercial space operations. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) recently formed the Department of Commercial Space Operations, marking an unprecedented institutional commitment to nurturing the private space sector.
This strategic development coincides with the release of a comprehensive action plan outlining 22 specific measures to achieve high-quality growth in commercial space activities by the end of 2027. The blueprint integrates commercial space ambitions into national space strategy across five critical domains: enhancing technological innovation, optimizing resource allocation, promoting commercial products and services, improving regulatory management, and implementing full-chain safety supervision.
The establishment of this specialized department signals a profound transformation in China’s space ecosystem. For nearly seven decades since the industry’s foundation, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, space programs remained exclusively under state control through entities like CNSA, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and major state-owned contractors including China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.
Over recent years, however, private enterprises have emerged as significant contributors to China’s space ambitions, fueled by supportive government policies and concrete assistance. This growing private sector involvement has generated substantial demand for commercial launch services, particularly in satellite deployment.
Currently, five Chinese private companies—i-Space, Galactic Energy, Space Pioneer, LandSpace, and Orienspace—have successfully conducted orbital launches using independently developed carrier rockets. The industry’s latest development features Beijing-based LandSpace preparing to launch its inaugural reusable rocket, the ZQ 3, in coming weeks, positioning itself to compete with American pioneer SpaceX in reusable launch technology.