China Announces Plans to Search for Extraterrestrial Life
China has unveiled an ambitious long-term space science plan that includes searching for habitable exoplanets and extraterrestrial life. The plan focuses on five major scientific topics and 17 priority research directions through 2050.
On October 15th, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China National Space Administration, and China Manned Space Engineering Office jointly released the “National Space Science Long-term Development Plan (2024-2050)”. The plan outlines five major scientific topics where China hopes to make breakthroughs, along with 17 priority research directions.
The first major topic is “Extreme Universe”, focusing on exploring the origin and evolution of the universe and unveiling the physical laws under extreme cosmic conditions. Priority research areas include dark matter, early universe evolution, and cosmic ray detection.
The second topic is “Ripples in Spacetime”, aimed at detecting low and medium frequency gravitational waves to reveal the nature of gravity and spacetime. The key research direction is space-based gravitational wave detection.
Third is “Panoramic View of the Sun and Earth”, centered on exploring Earth, the Sun, and the Sun-Earth system to uncover the physical processes and laws governing the complex interactions. Priority areas span Earth system cycles, Earth-Moon integrated observations, space weather monitoring, and solar and heliosphere probes.
The fourth topic, “Habitable Planets”, aims to evaluate the habitability of solar system bodies and exoplanets, initiating the search for extraterrestrial life. Research will focus on sustainable development potential, solar system paleontology, planetary geology, astrobiology, and extrasolar planet detection.
Finally, “Laws of Space Life” seeks to elucidate the laws governing matter and life under space conditions, deepening understanding of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Microgravity science, quantum physics, and space life science are key research directions.
Notably, the plan explicitly includes the search for extraterrestrial life, marking an important milestone for China’s space science ambitions. While not aiming to send crewed missions to the Sun, the approach focuses on using advanced scientific probes to detect potential biosignatures within the solar system.
Specific exploration activities may include:
- Deploying space telescopes and satellites to study the Sun and its effects on habitability
- Exploring potentially habitable moons and planets like Mars, Europa, Enceladus for evidence of water and organics
- Probing ancient solar system bodies and asteroids as records of early conditions
- Observing exoplanet atmospheres for biosignature gases like oxygen and methane
China has already made strides in these areas with missions like the Xihe solar probe and the FAST radio telescope. Upcoming projects include new Mars missions, asteroid sample returns, the CSST space telescope, and the ambitious “Closeby Habitable Exoplanet Survey”.
Searching for life beyond Earth is an immense challenge, but a necessary one for humanity. Through a systematic approach combining cutting-edge space exploration capabilities with ground-based support, China aims to help answer one of science’s greatest questions - are we alone in the universe? The next decades will reveal what discoveries await as China assumes a leading role in the search for extraterrestrial life.