China’s first international academic organization dedicated to deep space exploration — the International Deep Space Exploration Association — was officially inaugurated on July 7 in Hefei, Anhui Province.
The association was jointly initiated by Hefei-based Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration, the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the Chinese Society of Space Research, and the French initiative “Planetary Exploration, Horizon 2061”. The founding of the IDSEA was co-sponsored by 20 academicians from China and 31 scientists from abroad.
“The establishment of the association is of great significance for international exchange and cooperation in China’s space program. It marks a major step toward collaborative innovation within the global space community,” said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s Lunar Exploration Program and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
“It will play a vital role in uniting global scientific and technological forces, promoting mutual learning among civilizations, and building a community with a shared future for humanity in outer space,” Wu said.
He invited scientists and engineers worldwide to join the association and contribute to global exploration of the universe.
In the future, the association will focus on areas such as lunar exploration, planetary exploration and asteroid defense. It will conduct research on trends in international deep space exploration, host international academic events, promote the transformation of deep space research into practical applications, organize exhibitions and international training programs, and help cultivate global talent in space science and technology.
In addition, the association will publish international academic journals, launch major international projects, and establish awards to recognize outstanding scientists, thereby encouraging scientific discovery and innovation on a global scale.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
