China's Space Programme

S. Chandrashekar is the J R D Tata Visiting Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Before joining NIAS he was a Professor of Corporate Strategy at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). His work at IIMB involved linking technology especially high technology with business, corporate and national strategy. Prior to his stint at IIMB he spent more than 20 years working at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on satellites, rockets as well as the applications of space technology especially remote sensing. As Deputy Director of Earth Observation Systems he was also involved with all international matters related to space. He has been a member and leader of Indian delegations to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). He was the focal point at ISRO for all matters related to the militarisation of space. At NIAS his research is focused on missiles, nuclear weapons and space. Recent work includes the useof satellite imagery for identifying Uranium mills, the role of space in safeguarding India’s National Security interests, a critical assessment of China’s Space Programme and North Korea’s recent missile and nuclear weapon tests. His current research critically reviews China’s Anti-Access Area Denial military strategy directed against the US and its allies in the Asia Pacific Region.

• The Origins of China’s Space Programme.- Economic Reform and the Deng Era.- New Challenges to the Space Programme.- The Growth Phase of China’s Space Programme.- Strategic Trends and Future Directions.- Chinese Recoverable Satellites.- China’s Communications Satellites.- China’s Weather Satellites.- Remote Sensing Satellites.- China’s Navigation Satellite Constellation.- The Human Space Flight Programme.- Breakthrough Research in Space Science and Applications.- China’s Military Satellites.

“This book has its shining points and deepens our understanding  of the development of China’s different space programs, and the author’s analytical approach can provide reference for colleagues. However, it has room for improvement and expansion.” (Zhang Zhihui, Technology and Culture, Vol. 65 (2), April, 2024)“China’s Space Programme: From the Era of Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping by S Chandrashekhar provides a detailed account of the country’s rise to become a space power worth reckoning. … Each chapter carries a wealth of information in the form of tables and diagrams. … The richness of information on the Chinese Space programme makes the book a historical study, a tutorial, a study in management, and a reference guide.” (Arup Dasgupta, Geospatial Artha, Vol. 1 (5), January-February, 2023)