China unveiled an ambitious mid to long-term development plan for its space science programme on Tuesday, which will guide the country's space science missions and space research from 2024 to 2050.

The programme, the first of its kind at the national level, was jointly released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the China National Space Administration and the China Manned Space Agency at a press conference on Tuesday.

It outlines the development goals of China's space science, including 17 priority areas under five key scientific themes, as well as a three-phase roadmap.

The five key scientific themes include the extreme universe, space-time ripples, the panoramic view of the Sun and Earth, the search for habitable planets, and the study biological and physical sciences in space. This includes examining black holes and finding signs of extraterrestrial life.

“Our country’s space science research in general is still in an initial stage,” Ding Chibiao, a vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said at a news conference.

“It’s a weakness that must be addressed on the path of building an aerospace power.”

In the first phase, leading up to 2027, China will focus on the operation of its space station, implementing its manned missions to the moon as well as expanding its planetary exploration missions. (Xinhua/AP)