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China science 2021 round-up: breakthroughs in space, hypersonic weapons, nuclear power and more
- The biggest talking points range from the country’s first space station taking shape in orbit to evidence of a previously lost civilisation coming to light
- Elsewhere, a possible breakthrough in hypersonic flight grabbed the world’s attention while nuclear researchers announced a series of ambitious projects
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Chinese scientists have had a fruitful year, with a series of breakthroughs that range from the technology of the future to archaeological discoveries that could rewrite ancient Chinese history.
As we head towards the end of the year, we reflect on some of the biggest talking points in Chinese science over the past 12 months.
Space: an ISS rival, space junk, and landing on Mars
This year was China’s busiest year ever for space launches. Notable missions included the launch of the core module of the Tiangong space station and the arrival of the space station’s first astronauts.
When completed next year, Tiangong will be the largest piece of infrastructure built and maintained by a single country in near-earth orbit.
It has already been touted as a beacon of China’s space programme and a rival to the International Space Station, which is backed by the United States, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan.
China also became the third country in the world to safely land a rover on Mars in May, after the United States and Soviet Union.
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