Translation of an article from the International Space magazine 《国际 太空》 January 2015, pp. 17-25.
The journal belongs to the Chinese Space Science and Technology Corporation, and the article is a report of the scientific team of leading strategic space research projects of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

China's leading space science projects

China has planned to carry out the following projects on its own, as well as with international cooperation:

1. Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT, 硬 X 射线 调制 望远镜), a telescope for working with hard X-rays.
2. Quantum Experiments on Space Scale (QUESS, 量子 科学 实验 卫星), a satellite for conducting quantum experiments on a cosmic scale.
3. Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE, 暗物质 粒子 探测), a device for searching for particles of dark matter.
4. ShiJian-10 (SJ-10, 实践 -10) "Practice-10" - a research returnable satellite for the study of the space environment.
5. Project "Kua-fu" - observation of the Sun (夸父 计划)

Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT)

Electrical Testing

Test of the telescope in the assembled state

X-ray sources are celestial bodies in which high-energy processes take place, they are hot, have a high density, a powerful magnetic field, a strongly gravitational field, etc., that is, they are associated with extreme physical conditions. The main ways of studying it are the study of black holes, neutron stars, and the like of celestial bodies. The terrestrial atmosphere absorbs X-rays, so such observations can be made only outside.
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In 1970, the United States launched the first orbital X-ray observatory (previous experiments on X-ray radiation from celestial sources were carried out exclusively on suborbital rockets). This device allowed us to study X-rays, opened a new cosmic observation window for humanity.

In 1993, academician Li Tibei (李 惕 碚) proposed a project to create a telescope Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT, 硬 X 射线 调制 望远镜) with the goal of studying X-rays in a wide range (1 ~ 250 keV), studying the properties of black holes, physical laws under extreme conditions, supermassive black holes and other sources of high-energy radiation, as well as studying the properties of background X-rays. By observing black holes, neutron stars, active galaxies, etc. analyze the light curvature, properties of energy spectra, study the dynamics of high-energy radiation processes occurring under the influence of a strong gravitational field of black holes and other high-density space bodies.

The total mass of the HXMT is 2700 kg., It is planned to launch the Great Trip-4B into a circular orbit with a carrier rocket. Inclination of the orbit 43 °, altitude 550 km. The telescope is designed for a four-year service life, has a fixed point observation mode, as well as a patrol mode. The payload includes: a high-energy X-ray (HE) telescope, an average energy (ME) and a low-energy X-ray telescope (LE), and a space environment monitoring system (SEM). Parameters (HE): NaI (Tl) and CsI (Na) scintillators, 20 ~ 250 keV. Parameters (ME) Si-PIN 952 cm, 5 ~ 30 keV. Parameters (LE): SCD 384 cm, 1 ~ 15 keV.

In 2013, the HXMT project entered the final phase of device development. After launch, the telescope should
to carry out observations of hard x-rays with high sensitivity and high resolution, to detect new space bodies and phenomena of high-energy radiation. The current scheduled launch date is the end of 2015. More detailed technical specifications can be found in Bidupedia .

HXMT Prime Payload Model

Quantum Experiments on Space Scale (QUESS)

Schematic representation of the quantum key distribution (QKD) from a mobile platform over Qinghai Lake

QUESS is a satellite for conducting experiments with quantum information transfer technology.
Quantum mechanics was founded in the 20th century; today, within the framework of information technologies, they are studying quantum key distribution (QKD), checking Bell's inequality and quantum teleportation. In the international sphere, strong developed countries and regions equally invest a lot of human and material resources, develop practical and theoretical studies of the theory of quantum data transmission, prepare to conduct quantum data transfer experiments between an object in orbit and on Earth.

In the past few years, the team led by Chinese academician Pan Dzyanvey (潘建伟) has been working in the field of quantum entanglement, quantum data transmission and quantum teleportation in free space, and get excellent international results. They created a solid foundation for experimental verification of the theory of quantum communication at large distances and quantum mechanics.

The QUESS task is to provide a platform for quantum data experiments over long distances, for the first time in history to generate quantum keys and to transfer between satellite and Earth at space distance. The study of the problems of quantum theory and the verification of non-locality, have important scientific and practical goals, are designed to obtain noticeable results on the international arena in the field of studying the fundamentals of quantum mechanics.

The total mass of the satellite is 620 kg. They are going to output with the aid of the Great March-2D, it is supposed to work in a sun-synchronous orbit with a height of 600 km, an inclination of 97.79 °. The planned duration of the satellite is 2 years. Payload: a device for transmitting quantum keys, a transmitter of entangled quantum states, a device for obtaining quantum entanglement and control over the experiment.

At the end of 2012, the QUESS project entered the initial development stage of the device, and in 2014 the key development points were completed.

QUESS payload model

Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE)

Figure DAMPE in orbit

The Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is a satellite to search for dark matter particles. Possessing gravitational effects, black matter confirms its existence, but cannot be detected by means of electromagnetic waves, this fact is one of the long-standing problems of particle physics and cosmology, the study of dark matter can lead to a huge breakthrough in fundamental sciences.

DAMPE is the first astronomical satellite of China. With the help of observations of high-energy electrons, high-resolution gamma radiation, it is possible to detect dark matter particles in a wide wavelength range and make a breakthrough in their field of study.

Project Objectives: Through observations in the range of 1012 TeV and more, for electrons with high energies and heavy elementary particles, to make a breakthrough in cosmic ray research; Through observations of gamma radiation, to contribute to the development of gamma astronomy;

The total mass of the DAMPE satellite does not exceed 1900 kg. It is planned to launch into orbit with the help of a launch vehicle The Great March-2D. The orbit is solar-synchronous, height is 500 km, inclination is 97.4 °, the planned service life is 3 years. Payload: an array of silicon detectors, an array of scintillation detectors, a BGO detector (Bismuth germanate), a neutron detector and a data management device.

In September 2014, the DAMPE project completed the development of a test sample, passed environmental tests, and in October 2014 the project entered the final phase of satellite development.

Payload model

Satellite prototype on tests in a thermal vacuum chamber

Prototype at CERN passes calibration test

ShiJian-10 (SJ-10) "Practice-10"

Figure satellite ShiJian-10 in orbit

Practice-10 is a project put forward by Academician Hu Venzhuem (胡文瑞), whose main task is to set up experiments in the field of microgravity, biology, uncover the features of the laws of motion of matter and life in microgravity and cosmic radiation, the other goals of the project are to fully use remaining in orbit part and return part, deploy a variety of space science experiments.

The total mass of the satellite is 3600 kg. It is planned to launch the Great March-2D launch, orbit inclination 63 °, orbit perigee 220 km, apogee 482 km. The planned life of the device in orbit is 15 days. Practice-10 conducts a total of 19 scientific experiments on board, including experiments in the physics of microgravity of liquids, combustion under conditions of microgravity, space science, the biological effect of cosmic radiation, the biological effect of gravity. 6 experiments in space biotechnology, 10 experiments in the field of microgravity, 9 experiments in space biology.

At the end of 2014, the SJ-10 project reached the final stage of satellite development.

Model SJ-10 on the left and the model of the returned part of the satellite on the right

Project SJ-10 at the development stage

Project "Kua-fu"

The layout of the satellite project "Kua-fu" in orbit

The project "Kua-fu" (夸父 -) - a project to observe the sun (Kua-fu giant in ancient Chinese mythology, who wanted to catch up and catch the sun).

The sun being the main cosmic body in the solar system is of great importance and influence on the planets and the space between them. Currently, mankind has planned the launch of more than 10 satellites to explore the space between the Earth and the Sun. Their task is to study the factors influencing the formation of space weather. These include the Observatory of Observations of the Sun and the Heliosphere (SOHO), the “Cluster” / “Double Star” projects (“簇” 计划 / “双星”). However, the Kua-Fu project is the first satellite conducting simultaneous monitoring of space weather at the L1 point of the Earth-Sun and in the Earth’s orbit.

The project is aimed at continuous monitoring of the formation of space weather in the Sun-Earth system, to study the process of transfer of matter and energy and their interaction. Improve the accuracy of space weather forecasting and accelerate the study of the physics of the interaction of the sun with the Earth.

Kua-fu is an international project, China is responsible for the satellite at Lagrange point L1 - Kua-fu-A. The mission of foreign partners are the satellites Kua-fu-B1 and Kua-fu-B2. Due to factors affecting the international economic environment that cannot be predicted, foreign partners have not yet implemented their part of the Qua-fu project. Currently, the project is temporarily postponed.

Secondary scientific space projects

The main task of the secondary projects is to select from the already realized missions the ideas of the greatest scientific importance, and on their basis to make the preparatory work for the projects of the next five-year plan.

In 2011, the following minor projects were selected: the group of small satellites “interaction of the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere” (MIT), the satellite “measuring the change of gamma radiation and its polarization” (XTP), the VLBI array of cosmic millimeter waves (SVLBI) and the telescope project for taking pictures in solar polar orbit (SPORT).

In 2013, the following projects were selected: the Earth Planet Search Project (STEP), the space-based advanced solar observatory (ASO-S), the Einstein probe (EP) and the satellite for observing the global water circulation (WCOM).

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I did not begin to do the translation of the description of minor projects.
References:
The article itself in pdf (Kit, 2.6 MB)
There are also two interesting Chinese magazines, you can watch only the first few pages for free and provided you put them in the browser plugin:
Magazine "International Space"
Journal "Space Research"
Links for those who missed the articles on China's space program at Geek Times:
Chinese space program: own rover, space station by the end of the next five-year plan + heavy launch vehicle
History of Chinese Astronautics
This is my first translation from Chinese, about errors and inaccuracies, please write in a personal.