Exploring the origin of the universe and searching for extraterrestrial life…the five major themes of my country’s space science are expected to achieve breakthroughs

In the recently released “National Space Science Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2024–2050)”, five major scientific themes and seventeen priority development directions were highlighted, signaling a potential breakthrough for our country in the field of space science.

The five major scientific themes outlined are as follows:

**Theme 1: “Extreme Cosmos”**
This theme focuses on exploring the origins and evolution of the universe, aiming to reveal the physical laws under extreme cosmic conditions. The priority development directions include studies on dark matter and extreme cosmos, the origin and evolution of the universe, and the detection of baryonic matter in the cosmos.

**Theme 2: “Spacetime Ripples”**
This theme centers on detecting mid- to low-frequency gravitational waves and primordial gravitational waves, shedding light on the nature of gravity and spacetime. A key priority here is the detection of gravitational waves in space.

**Theme 3: “Earth-Sun Panorama”**
The focus of this theme is to explore the complex systems of Earth, the Sun, and the heliosphere, unveiling the physical processes and relationships that connect the Sun and the solar system. Priority development directions include the study of Earth’s circulation systems, comprehensive observations of the Earth-Moon system, space weather detection, comprehensive solar observations, and studies of the outer heliosphere.

**Theme 4: “Habitable Planets”**
This theme involves the exploration of habitability in celestial bodies within our solar system and exoplanets, along with the search for extraterrestrial life. The priority areas of development include sustainable development, solar system archaeology, characterization of planetary layers, extraterrestrial life exploration, and the detection of exoplanets.

**Theme 5: “Material Science in Space”**
The focus here is to uncover the laws of matter movement and biological activity in space, deepening our understanding of fundamental physics, including quantum mechanics and general relativity. The priority directions include microgravity science, studies of quantum mechanics and general relativity, and space life sciences.

This comprehensive plan reflects our commitment to advancing space science and aligns with our long-term vision for discovery and innovation in this critical field.