On January 3, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) held the 2023 Spacecraft Development Work Conference. The conference fully implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, carried out the major decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, summarized the Corporation’s spacecraft development work in 2022, analyzed the development situation for the current and coming period, and deployed key tasks for 2023.

Wu Yansheng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of CASC; Zhang Zhongyang, General Manager and Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group; Fang Dongming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group; Xie Jun, Leader of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Group and Member of the Party Leadership Group; Li Hong and Deng Hongbing, Members of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy General Managers; Fang Shili, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Chief Accountant; Lin Yiming and Zhang Hongjun, Members of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy General Managers; Director of the Science and Technology Commission, General Counsel, Chief Engineer, Chief Information Officer, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Commission, and leaders of various expert groups; heads of all headquarters departments, Deputy Leaders of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Group, and principal leaders of all academies and some other units attended the meeting at the main venue. The conference was held via video link and presided over by Fang Dongming.

At the meeting, Zhang Zhongyang delivered a work report titled Implementing the Military Strengthening Philosophy, Adhering to the "Three Highs" Development, and Fully Completing the 2023 Spacecraft R&D and Production Tasks, summarizing the spacecraft R&D and production work in 2022 and deploying the tasks for 2023.

The report stated that in 2023, CASC plans to arrange more than 50 space launch missions; the manned space station project will enter the application and development phase, with the space station shifting to normalized operation; the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project and the planetary exploration project will be fully advanced, including the development of spacecraft such as Chang'e-7 and Tianwen-2; the maiden flight of the Long March-6C carrier rocket will be completed; and contract fulfillment for commercial aerospace and whole-satellite exports will be accomplished.

The annual spacecraft R&D and production tasks require a deep understanding of the changes of the times and proactive planning for transformation and upgrading. Space launch and flight test missions will continue to feature high density and normalization; major engineering tasks remain arduous; spacecraft development involves high technical difficulty, demanding stringent identification and control of major risks; mass production and delivery will maintain a high intensity, posing great challenges to existing production capacity; market competition has become the norm, and market-oriented operation of R&D and production is imperative.

The report clarified the key tasks and requirements for 2023:

▲ Effectively raise political standing and faithfully fulfill missions and responsibilities;

▲ Comprehensively deepen reforms and steadily promote transformation and upgrading;

▲ Drive innovation-led development and enhance independent and controllable capabilities;

▲ Establish a risk management system to ensure accountability for risks;

▲ Consolidate quality improvement achievements and improve the quality management system;

▲ Deepen spacecraft operation management and enhance project bidding capabilities;

▲ Continuously optimize cost control and establish a price management system;

▲ Intensify productization efforts to achieve dual-driven development of spacecraft products;

▲ Accelerate digital transformation and improve equipment digitalization;

▲ Advance core capability building and consolidate the foundation for spacecraft development;

▲ Focus on building spacecraft teams to gather strong momentum for development;

▲ Improve military-civilian coordination mechanisms and foster a clean and upright ecosystem;

▲ Strengthen security, confidentiality, and epidemic prevention management to ensure mission success;

▲ Uphold the Party’s overall leadership and inherit and promote the aerospace spirit.

At the meeting, Zhang Hongjun delivered a quality work report titled Systematically Improving Risk Management and Control Capabilities, Establishing a Lean Quality Management System, and Ensuring the Successful Completion of Annual Spacecraft R&D and Production Tasks with High Quality. The report reviewed the progress in building a strong aerospace nation in 2022, striving to fulfill the tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan and achieve the centenary goal of strengthening the military on schedule.