Xuntian

A planned Chinese space telescope

Xuntian (CSST)

Xuntian mockup, showing its 2-meter diameter telescope

Mission type| Astronomy
Operator| CNSA
Mission duration| 10+ years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Dry mass| 15,500 kilograms (34,200 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date| 2026[2] (planned)
Rocket| Long March 5B
Launch site| Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
Contractor| CASC
Orbital parameters
Reference system| Low Earth orbit
Main telescope
Diameter| 2 metres (6.6 ft)
Focal length| 28 m (92 ft)
Wavelengths| 255 ~ 1000 nm (Survey camera), 0.41~0.51 THz (590~730 μm) (Terahertz receiver)
Resolution| 0.15 arcsec
| Instruments

SC| Survey camera
HSTDM| Terahertz receiver (high sensitivity terahertz detection module)
MCI| Multichannel imager
IFS| Integral field spectrograph
CPI-C| Cool planet imaging coronagraph

Tiangong program

<- Mengtian module

Xuntian (Chinese: 巡天; pinyin: Xúntiān; lit: Tour of Heaven),[a] also known as the Chinese Space Station Telescope[5] (CSST) (Chinese: 巡天空间望远镜; pinyin: Xúntiān Kōngjiān Wàngyuǎnjìng) is a planned Chinese space telescope currently under development.[6]

It will feature a 2-meter (6.6 foot) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300–350 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope.[7] This will allow the telescope to image up to 40 percent of the sky using its 2.5 gigapixel camera.

Xuntian Space Telescope mockup, showing its docking port

As of 2024, Xuntian is scheduled for launch no earlier than late 2026[2][8][9] on a Long March 5B rocket to co-orbit with the Tiangong space station in slightly different orbital phases, which will allow for periodic docking with the station.[10]

This state-of-the-art telescope, characterized by its off-axis design without any obstruction, sidesteps diffraction challenges associated with mirror support structures. As a result, its point spread function (PSF) remains unscathed, presenting a valuable asset for weak-lensing shear measurements.

Estimated distribution of the observation pointing centers of the CSST survey for 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 10 years.[11]

The primary mission of the CSST revolves around high-resolution large-area multiband imaging and slitless spectroscopy surveys, spanning the wavelength range of 255–1,000 nm. Precise cosmology serves as the principal scientific driver behind this ambitious endeavor, with a focus on observing regions at median-to-high Galactic and ecliptic latitudes. Over a period of 10 years, the survey camera is slated to cover approximately 17,500 square degrees of the sky in various bands, reaching point-source 5σ limiting magnitudes of about 26 (AB mag) in g and r bands.

The CSST's spectral resolution (R=λ/Δλ) for the slitless spectrograph averages no less than 200, attaining wide-band-equivalent limiting magnitudes in GV (400–620 nm) and GI (620–1,000 nm) bands at about 23 mag. Beyond its wide-area survey, the CSST will target specific deep fields, aiming for observations that surpass the depth of the broader survey by at least one magnitude. The collective strengths of its angular resolution, depth, wavelength range, and capacity for both imaging and spectroscopy, coupled with extensive sky coverage, render the CSST survey highly competitive.

Notably, the CSST's observations are poised to complement and enhance other contemporaneous large-scale projects, including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the Euclid Space Telescope, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

## Instruments

[edit]

Xuntian is equipped with five first-generation instruments, including a survey camera, a terahertz receiver, a multichannel imager, an integral field spectrograph, and a cool planet imaging coronagraph.[12]

### Survey camera

[edit]

The survey camera is also known as the multi-color photometry and slitless spectroscopy survey module. The module is located at the main focal plane and divided into the multi-color photometry submodule of 7 bands (NUV, u, g, r, i, z, y) and the slitless spectroscopy submodule of 3 bands (GU, GV, GI). The multi-color photometry submodule includes 18 filters, covering 60% of the area of this module. The slitless spectroscopy submodule includes 12 gratings, covering the other 40% of the area.

Focal plane arrangement of the CSST survey camera System throughput of CSST survey bands

### Terahertz receiver

[edit]

The terahertz receiver, also known as the high sensitivity terahertz detection module (HSTDM), enables terahertz (THz) astronomical observations from space. Conducting THz observations in space eliminates Earth's atmospheric absorption. HSTDM is a high-resolution spectrometer and the first space heterodyne receiver using niobium nitride (NbN)-based superconducting tunnel junction (Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS)) mixer (the NbN SIS mixer).[13]

### Multichannel imager

[edit]

Transmission curves of MCI and the survey camera[14]

The Multichannel imager (MCI) has three channels covering the same wavelength range as the survey camera from the NUV to NIR bands, and these channels can work simultaneously. Three sets of filters, i.e., narrow-, medium-, and wide-band filters, will be installed on the MCI to perform extreme-deep field surveys with a field of view of 7.5′×7.5′. The magnitude limit can be stacked to a depth of 29–30 AB mag in three channels. It will study the formation and evolution of high-z galaxies, properties of dark matter and dark energy, and also can be used to calibrate the photo-z measurements with its nine medium-band filters for the main surveys.[14]

### Integral field spectrograph

[edit]

The CSST-IFS (Integral Field Spectrograph) is one of the 5 instruments onboard the CSST. The key advantages of the CSST-IFS are the high spatial resolution of 0.2" and the full range optical wavelength coverage (0.35-1.0 μm). Considering the limitation of the 2-meter aperture of the CSST, the CSST-IFS is optimal for targeting compact and bright sources, which therefore will be irreplaceable for studying galactic central regions (AGN feedback) and star-forming regions.[15]

### Cool planet imaging coronagraph

[edit]

The cool planet imaging coronagraph (CPI-C) aims to realize high-contrast (< 10-8) direct imaging of exoplanets with an inner working angle (IWA) of 0.35′′ in the visible (0.6328 μm). It plans to follow up exoplanets discovered by radial velocity observations, study planet formation and evolution, and probe protoplanetary disks.[16] CPI-C works at 0.53-1.6 μm and is equipped with 7 broad passbands.

## See also

[edit]

* Hubble Space Telescope
* James Webb Space Telescope
* Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
* Lists of telescopes

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The name "Xuntian" comes from the Chinese translation of Astronomical survey (巡天调查, Xúntiān Diàochá). Xuntian can also be literally translated as "surveying the sky"[3] or "survey to heavens".[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hu Zhan (2019-11-05). "An Update on the Chinese Space Station Telescope Project" (PDF). National Astronomical Observatories. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
2. ^ a b "China's giant Xuntian space telescope faces further delay until late 2026". South China Morning Post. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
3. ^ "China Space Station Telescope "Almost Complete"". 2022-07-22.
4. ^ "China's massive Xuntian Telescope set to beat NASA's Hubble Space Telescope". 2022-07-24.
5. ^ "China Delays Launch of Its Xuntian Space Telescope". Scientific American. 21 Nov 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
6. ^ Gao, Ming; Zhao, Guangheng; Gu, Yidong (2015). "我国空间站的空间科学与应用任务" [Space Science and Application Mission in China's Space Station]. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (in Chinese). 30 (6). CAS: 721–732. doi:10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.2015.06.002. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
7. ^ "Outgunning NASA's Hubble, China Claims Its Xuntian Telescope with 350-Fold Bigger View Can Unravel 'Cosmic Mysteries'". 8 May 2022.
8. ^ "China Delays Launch of Its Xuntian Space Telescope". Scientific American. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
9. ^ Qiu, Xiaoqing; Fan, Zhou; Song, Yihan; Gu, Hongrui; Jiang, Haijiao; Li, Jing (15 November 2023). "CSST Slitless Spectroscopy Ground Test Based on the 80 cm Telescope at the Xinglong Observatory". Astronomical Research and Technology. 20: 564–575. doi:10.14005/j.cnki.issn1672-7673.20230911.001.
10. ^ Jones, Andrew (20 April 2021). "China wants to launch its own Hubble-class telescope as part of space station". Space.com. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
11. ^ Fu, Zhen-Sen; Qi, Zhao-Xiang; Liao, Shi-Long; Peng, Xi-Yan; Yu, Yong; Wu, Qi-Qi; Shao, Li; Xu, You-Hua (2023-06-02). "Simulation of CSST's astrometric capability". Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. 10. arXiv:2304.02196. Bibcode:2023FrASS..1046603F. doi:10.3389/fspas.2023.1146603. ISSN 2296-987X.
12. ^ Zhan, Hu (2021-04-01). "The wide-field multiband imaging and slitless spectroscopy survey to be carried out by the Survey Space Telescope of China Manned Space Program". Chinese Science Bulletin. 66 (11): 1290–1298. doi:10.1360/TB-2021-0016. ISSN 0023-074X. S2CID 234805827.
13. ^ 张坤, 姚明; ZHANG Kun, YAO Ming (2023-03-07). "高灵敏度太赫兹探测模块氮化铌超导SIS混频器空间环境适应性研究". 红外与毫米波学报 (in Chinese). 42 (2): 188–192. doi:10.11972/j.issn.1001-9014.2023.02.006. ISSN 1001-9014.
14. ^ a b Cao, Ye; Gong, Yan; Zheng, Zhen-Ya; Xu, Chun (2022-02-01). "Calibrating Photometric Redshift Measurements with the Multi-channel Imager (MCI) of the China Space Station Telescope (CSST)". Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. 22 (2): 025019. arXiv:2110.07088. Bibcode:2022RAA....22b5019C. doi:10.1088/1674-4527/ac424e. ISSN 1674-4527. S2CID 238857005.
15. ^ "Progress of the CSST-IFS". www.phy.cuhk.edu.hk. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
16. ^ Gao, Ming; Zhao, Guangheng; Gu, Yidong (2022). "Recent Progress in Space Science and Applications of China's Space Station in 2020–2022". 空间科学学报(Chin. J. Space Sci.). 42 (4): 503–510. Bibcode:2022ChJSS..42..503G. doi:10.11728/cjss2022.04.yg29. ISSN 0254-6124.

* v
* t
* e

Tiangong space station

* China National Space Administration (CNSA)
* Chinese space program
* Crewed flight
* Expeditions
* Spacewalks

Components|

* Core Module (Tianhe) (2021)
* Laboratory Module 1 (Wentian) (2022)
* Laboratory Module 2 (Mengtian) (2022)
* Space Station Telescope (Xuntian) (2026)

Spaceflights|

| Crewed|

* 2021
* Shenzhou 12
* 13
* 2022
* Shenzhou 14
* 15
* 2023
* Shenzhou 16
* 17
* 2024
* Shenzhou 18
* 19
* 2025
* Shenzhou 20

|

Uncrewed|

* 2021
* Tianhe
* Tianzhou 2
* 3
* 2022
* Tianzhou 4
* 5
* 2023
* Tianzhou 6
* 2024
* Tianzhou 7
* 8

Vehicles|

| Spacecraft|

* Shenzhou
* Tianzhou

|

Rocket|

* Long March 2F
* Long March 5
* Long March 7

Sites and facilities|

* Beijing C&C Center
* Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
* Wenchang Satellite Launch Center

Precursors|

* Project 921
* Shenzhou program
* Shenzhou 8
* 9
* 10
* 11
* Tiangong program
* Tiangong-1
* 2
* 3 (cancelled)

* Ongoing spaceflights in underline
* Future spaceflights in italics

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Chinese space program

* China National Space Administration (CNSA)
* China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
* China Manned Space Agency
* People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps

| Spaceports and landing sites|

* Jiuquan
* Taiyuan
* Wenchang
* Xichang
* Siziwang Banner (landing site)

|

Launch vehicles|

* Long March 1
* Long March 2
* Long March 3
* Long March 3A
* Long March 3B
* Long March 3C
* Long March 4
* Long March 4A
* Long March 4B
* Long March 4C
* Long March 5
* Long March 6
* Long March 7
* Long March 8
* Long March 9 (In development)
* Long March 10 (In development)
* Long March 11
* Long March 12
* Kuaizhou
* Kaituozhe

Exploration programs|

* Shuguang (cancelled)
* CMS (human spaceflight)
* Chang'e (lunar exploration)
* Tiangong (space station)
* Tianwen (interplanetary exploration)

Projects and missions

Science|

| Planetary science|

* Chang'e 1 (2007–09)
* Chang'e 2 (2010–present)
* Yinghuo 1† (2011)
* Chang'e 3 (2013–present)
* Chang'e 5-T1 (2014–present)
* Yutu rover (2013–2016)
* Chang'e 4 (2018–present)
* Yutu-2 rover (2018–present)
* Tianwen-1 (2020–present)
* Chang'e 5 (2020–present)
* Zhurong rover (2021–present)
* Chang'e 6 (2024)
* Tianwen-2 (2025)
* Chang'e 7 (2026)
* Chang'e 8 (2028)
* Tianwen-3 (2028)
* Tianwen-4 (2029)

|

Astronomy and
cosmology

* DAMPE (2015–present)
* HXMT (2017–present)
* GECAM (2020–present)
* CHASE (2021–present)
* ASO-S (2022–present)
* Einstein Probe (2024–present)
* SVOM (2024–present)
* Xuntian (2026)
* Space Solar Telescope

Earth observation|

* CSES (2018–present)
* Double Star (2003–07)
* Gaofen Series (2013–present)
* Haiyang Series (2002–present)
* TanSat (2016–present)
* Yaogan Series (2006–present)
* Ziyuan Series (CBERS) (1999–present)
* SMILE (2025)

Human
spaceflight|

| Uncrewed expeditions|

* Shenzhou 1
* Shenzhou 2
* Shenzhou 3
* Shenzhou 4
* Shenzhou 8

|

Crewed expeditions|

* Shenzhou 5
* Shenzhou 6
* Shenzhou 7
* Shenzhou 9
* Shenzhou 10
* Shenzhou 11
* Shenzhou 12
* Shenzhou 13
* Shenzhou 14
* Shenzhou 15
* Shenzhou 16
* Shenzhou 17
* Shenzhou 18
* (List of Chinese astronauts)

Space laboratories and cargos|

* Tiangong 1 (2011–2018)
* Tiangong 2 (2016–2019)
* Tianzhou 1 (2017)
* Tianzhou 2 (2021)
* Tianzhou 3 (2021)
* Tianzhou 4 (2022)
* Tianzhou 5 (2022)
* Tianzhou 6 (2023)

Tiangong space station modules|

* Tianhe (2021–present)
* Wentian (2022–present)
* Mengtian (2022–present)

Navigation|

* BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)

Telecommunications|

* Apstar Series (1994–present)
* Chinasat Series (1994–present)
* Queqiao (2018–present)
* Tiandu 1 and 2 (2024–present)
* Tianlian I (2008–present)
* Tianlian II (2019–present)
* Qianfan (2024–present)
* Queqiao 2 (2024–present)

Technology
demonstrators

* Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft (2020)
* FSW Program (1969–2006)
* QUESS (2016–present)
* Shijian Series (1971–present)
* XPNAV 1 (2016–present)

Related|

* Lanyue Lunar Lander

* Future missions marked in italics. Failed missions marked with † sign

* v
* t
* e

Chinese spacecraft

Earth observation|

* Double Star (joint with ESA)
* Fengyun
* Gaofen
* FSW
* Huanjing
* HY
* Jilin
* Shiyan
* SMMS
* TanSat
* Tansuo
* Tianhui
* Yaogan
* Ziyuan

Communication and engineering|

* Dong Fang Hong
* FH-1
* Apstar
* APMT
* Asiasat
* ChinaSat
* ChinaStar
* HKSTG
* LGSP
* OlympicSat
* Qianfan
* Shijian
* Sinosat
* Tiantong 1
* Tsinghua-1
* Xiwang 1

Data relay satellite system|

* Queqiao and Queqiao 2
* Tiandu 1 and 2
* Tianlian Constellation

Satellite navigation system|

* BeiDou-1
* BeiDou-2
* Beidou-3

Astronomical observation|

* ASO-S
* CHASE
* DAMPE
* GECAM
* HXMT
* Kuafu
* Longjiang-2
* Queqiao
* Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy
* Einstein Probe (joint with ESA)
* SST
* SVOM
* Xuntian
* SMILE

Lunar exploration|

* Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
* Chang'e 1
* Chang'e 2
* Chang'e 3
* Yutu
* Chang'e 5-T1
* Chang'e 4
* Yutu-2
* Chang'e 5
* Chang'e 6
* Chang'e 7
* Chang'e 8

Planetary exploration|

* Yinghuo-1
* Chang'e 2
* Tianwen-1
* Zhurong
* Shensuo
* Tianwen-2
* Tianwen-3
* Tianwen-4

Microsatellites|

* Fengniao
* Xinyan

Future spacecraft in italics.

* v
* t
* e

Space telescopes

Operating|

| Radio and Microwave|

* NCLE (since 2018)
* Solar Orbiter (since 2020)
* STEREO (since 2006)
* Queqiao (since 2018)
* Wind (since 1994)
* Queqiao 2 (since 2024)

|

Infrared|

* Odin (since 2001)
* SOLAR (since 2008)
* James Webb (since 2022)

Optical|

* Aoi (since 2018)
* Astrosat (since 2015)
* BRITE constellation (since 2013)
* CHASE (since 2021)
* CHEOPS (since 2019)
* DSCOVR (since 2015)
* Euclid (since 2023)
* Hayabusa2 (since 2021)
* Gaia (since 2013)
* HiRISE (since 2005)
* Hubble (since 1990)
* Hinode (Solar-B) (since 2006)
* NEOSSat (since 2013)
* Odin (since 2001)
* SDO (since 2010)
* SOHO (since 1995)
* SOLAR (since 2008)
* Swift (since 2004)
* TESS (since 2018)

Ultraviolet|

* Aditya-L1 (since 2023)
* ASO-S (since 2022)
* Astrosat (since 2015)
* Hibari (since 2021)
* Hinode (Solar-B) (since 2006)
* IRIS (since 2013)
* SDO (since 2010)
* SOHO (since 1995)
* SOLAR (since 2008)
* Solar Orbiter (since 2020)
* STEREO (since 2006)
* Swift (since 2004)

X-ray and Gamma-ray|

* CALET (since 2015)
* Chandra (AXAF) (since 1999)
* DAMPE (since 2015)
* Einstein Probe (since 2024)
* HXMT (Insight) (since 2017)
* INTEGRAL (since 2002)
* Fermi (since 2008)
* GECAM (since 2020)
* IXPE (since 2021)
* Spektr-RG (since 2019)
* SVOM (since 2024)
* Swift (since 2004)
* Max Valier Sat (since 2017)
* MAXI (since 2009)
* MinXSS-2 (since 2018)
* NICER (since 2017)
* NuSTAR (since 2012)
* LEIA (since 2022)
* XRISM (since 2023)
* XPoSat (since 2024)
* XMM-Newton (since 1999)

Other (particle
or unclassified)|

* ACE (since 1997)
* AMS-02 (since 2011)
* CALET (since 2015)
* DAMPE (since 2015)
* IBEX (since 2008)
* ISS-CREAM (since 2017)
* Mini-EUSO (since 2019)
* SOHO (since 1995)
* Solar Orbiter (since 2020)
* STEREO (since 2006)

Planned|

* PETREL (2025)
* SPHEREx (2025)
* K-EUSO (2026)
* Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (2026)
* PLATO (2026)
* Xuntian (2026)
* COSI (2027)
* LORD (2027)
* NEO Surveyor (2027)
* JASMINE (2028)
* Solar-C EUVST (2028)
* ARIEL (2029)
* Spektr-UV (2030)
* UVEX (2030)
* Spektr-M (2030+)
* LiteBIRD (2032)
* Taiji (2033)
* Athena (2035)
* LISA (2035)

Proposed|

* Arcus
* Astro-1 Telescope
* AstroSat-2
* EXCEDE
* Fresnel Imager
* FOCAL
* GSST-PMM
* HabEx
* HWO
* Hypertelescope
* ILO-1
* iWF-MAXI
* JEM-EUSO
* LUCI
* LUVOIR
* Lynx
* Nano-JASMINE
* Nautilus Deep Space Observatory
* New Worlds Mission
* NRO donation to NASA
* ORBIS
* OST
* PhoENiX
* Solar-D
* Space Solar Telescope
* THEIA
* THESEUS

Retired|

* AGILE (2007–2024)
* Akari (Astro-F) (2006–2011)
* ALEXIS (1993–2005)
* Alouette 1 (1962–1972)
* Ariel 1 (1962, 1964)
* Ariel 2 (1964)
* Ariel 3 (1967–1969)
* Ariel 4 (1971–1972)
* Ariel 5 (1974–1980)
* Ariel 6 (1979–1982)
* ASTERIA (2017–2019)
* ATM (1973–1974)
* ASCA (Astro-D) (1993–2000)
* Astro-1 (1990)
* BBXRT
* HUT
* Astro-2 (HUT) (1995)
* Astron (1983–1991)
* ANS (1974–1976)
* BeppoSAX (1996–2003)
* CHIPSat (2003–2008)
* Compton (CGRO) (1991–2000)
* CoRoT (2006–2013)
* Cos-B (1975–1982)
* COBE (1989–1993)
* CXBN-2 (2017–2019)
* DXS (1993)
* EPOCh (2008)
* EPOXI (2010)
* Explorer 11 (1961)
* EXOSAT (1983–1986)
* EUVE (1992–2001)
* FUSE (1999–2007)
* Kvant-1 (1987–2001)
* GALEX (2003–2013)
* Gamma (1990–1992)
* Ginga (Astro-C) (1987–1991)
* Granat (1989–1998)
* Hakucho (CORSA-b) (1979–1985)
* HALCA (MUSES-B) (1997–2005)
* HEAO-1 (1977–1979)
* Herschel (2009–2013)
* Hinotori (Astro-A) (1981–1991)
* Hisaki (SPRINT-A) (2013–2023)
* HEAO-2 (Einstein Obs.) (1978–1982)
* HEAO-3 (1979–1981)
* HETE-2 (2000–2008)
* Hipparcos (1989–1993)
* ILO-X (2024)
* IRAS (1983)
* IRTS (1995–1996)
* ISO (1996–1998)
* IUE (1978–1996)
* IXAE (1996–2004)
* Kepler (2009–2018)
* Kristall (1990–2001)
* LEGRI (1997–2002)
* LISA Pathfinder (2015–2017)
* MinXSS (2015–2017)
* MOST (2003–2019)
* MSX (1996–1997)
* Mikhailo Lomonosov (2016–2019?)
* OAO-2 (1968–1973)
* OAO-3 (Copernicus) (1972–1981)
* Orbiting Solar Observatory
* OSO 1
* OSO B
* OSO 3
* OSO 4
* OSO 5
* OSO 6
* OSO 7
* OSO 8
* Orion 1 (1971)
* Orion 2 (1973)
* PAMELA (2006–2016)
* PicSat (2018)
* Planck (2009–2013)
* RELIKT-1 (1983–1984)
* R/HESSI (2002–2018)
* ROSAT (1990–1999)
* RXTE (1995–2012)
* SAMPEX (1992–2004)
* SAS-B (1972–1973)
* SAS-C (1975–1979)
* Solwind (1979–1985)
* Spektr-R (2011–2019)
* Spitzer (2003–2020)
* Suzaku (Astro-EII) (2005–2015)
* Taiyo (SRATS) (1975–1980)
* Tenma (Astro-B) (1983–1985)
* Uhuru (1970–1973)
* Vanguard 3 (1959)
* WMAP (2001–2010)
* WISE (2009–2024)
* Yokoh (Solar-A) (1991–2001)

Hibernating
(Mission completed)|

* SWAS (1998–2005)
* TRACE (1998–2010)

Lost/Failed|

* OAO-1 (1966)
* OAO-B (1970)
* CORSA (1976)
* CXBN (2012–2013)
* OSO C (1965)
* ABRIXAS (1999)
* HETE-1 (1996)
* WIRE (1999)
* Astro-E (2000)
* Tsubame (2014–2015)
* Hitomi (Astro-H) (2016)

Cancelled|

* Aelita
* AOSO
* Astro-G
* Constellation-X
* Darwin
* Destiny
* EChO
* Eddington
* FAME
* FINESSE
* GEMS
* HOP
* IXO
* JDEM
* LOFT
* OSO J
* OSO K
* Sentinel
* SIM & SIMlite
* SNAP
* SPICA
* SPOrt
* TAUVEX
* TPF
* XEUS
* XIPE

Related|

* Great Observatories program
* List of space telescopes
* List of proposed space telescopes
* X-ray telescope
* List of heliophysics missions
* List of planetariums

* Category:Space telescopes

* v
* t
* e

Future spaceflights

Crewed|

| 2025|

* SpaceX Crew-10 (February)
* Fram2 (March)
* Soyuz MS-27 (March)
* Shenzhou 20 (May)
* Axiom Mission 4 (Spring)
* Boeing Starliner-1 (August)
* Soyuz MS-28 (September)
* Artemis II (September)
* Vast-1
* Shenzhou 21 (November)

|

2026+|

* Soyuz MS-29 (March 2026)
* Artemis III (2026)
* Gaganyaan-4 (2026)
* Gaganyaan-5
* Artemis IV (2028)
* Artemis V (2030)
* Chinese Crewed Lunar Landing Mission (~2030)

Uncrewed|

| 2024|

* Blue Ghost M1
* DISHA
* GOSAT-GW
* GSAT-20
* Hakuto-R M2
* PROBA-3 (December)

|

2025|

* Biomass
* Bion-M No.2 (March)
* ESCAPADE
* Gaganyaan-1 (March)
* IM-2 / Lunar Trailblazer (January)
* IMAP / SWFO-L1 (April)
* Gaganyaan-2
* Gaganyaan-3
* Garatéa-L
* HTV-X1
* IM-3
* LOXSAT1
* MetOp-SG Series A
* MetOp-SG Series B
* MULA
* NISAR
* PETREL
* SMILE
* Space Rider
* SPARCS
* SPHEREx / PUNCH (February)
* SSC Demo-1
* Tianwen-2 (May)
* TRACERS (April)

2026|

* ALTIUS / FLEX
* Chang'e 7 / Rashid 2
* ispace M3
* MMX
* Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (2026–2027)
* Xuntian
* PLATO
* ULTRASAT

2027|

* Chandrayaan-4
* FORUM
* Luna 26
* NEO Surveyor (September)
* PPE / HALO
* Superbird-9

2028+|

* Chang'e 8 (2028)
* DESTINY+ (2028)
* Dragonfly (2028)
* JASMINE (2028)
* Luna 27 (2028)
* LUPEX (2028)
* MBR Explorer (2028)
* MSR (2028)
* Rosalind Franklin rover (2028)
* SAOCOM-2A (2028)
* Solar-C EUVST (2028)
* Tianwen-3 (2028)
* Venus Orbiter Mission (2028)
* ARIEL / Comet Interceptor (2029)
* Harmony (2029)
* Tianwen-4 (2029)
* Venera-D (2029–2031)
* ISS Deorbit Vehicle (2030)
* Luna 28 (2030)
* SAOCOM-2B (2030)
* Spektr-UV (2030)
* Spektr-M (2030+)
* EnVision (2031)
* VERITAS (2031)
* DAVINCI (2031–2032)
* LiteBIRD (2032)
* Athena (2035)
* LISA (2035)

TBA|

* Janus
* MOM 2
* TEREX-1 (mid 2020s)
* Uranus Orbiter and Probe
* Habitable Worlds Observatory

Recently
launched|

* Polaris Dawn (10 September)
* Soyuz MS-26 (11 September)
* SpaceX Crew-9 (28 September)
* Europa Clipper (14 October)
* Shenzhou 19 (29 October)

* List of proposed missions to the Moon
* List of proposed space observatories
* List of proposed Solar System probes

Portals:

* China
* Astronomy
* Stars
* Spaceflight
* Outer space
* Solar System
* Education
* Science

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template