Xuntian Space Telescope

Xuntian: China’s Cosmic Eye

Xuntian, also known as the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), is China’s next-generation space observatory set to launch in 2026. Featuring a 2-meter primary mirror and a cutting-edge wide-field imaging system, Xuntian will conduct high-resolution sky surveys in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths. Positioned in a similar orbit to the Tiangong space station, it will enable close collaboration with China’s crewed missions and offer potential for on-orbit servicing and upgrades.

• Design & Capabilities: Xuntian is often compared to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in terms of resolution, but it boasts a field of view that is around 300 times larger, allowing it to image vast areas of the cosmos in a single exposure. This wide-angle vision makes it ideal for large-scale sky surveys and population studies of galaxies and stars.
• Orbital Position: Operating in low Earth orbit near Tiangong, Xuntian will periodically dock with the space station for maintenance, calibration, or instrument upgrades—an engineering advantage that enhances its operational lifespan and scientific reliability.
• Scientific Goals: The mission is geared toward answering some of the most profound questions in astrophysics. Xuntian will study dark matter distribution, the large-scale structure of the universe, and galaxy evolution. It will also search for distant supernovae and active galactic nuclei, shedding light on cosmic acceleration and the nature of dark energy.
• Technology Integration: The telescope is equipped with a 2.5-gigapixel detector array and multiple scientific instruments, including slitless spectrometers and multi-channel imagers, which will enable simultaneous data collection across different wavelengths and scientific domains.

Future Impact

Xuntian is expected to operate alongside international missions such as NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and ESA’s Euclid, contributing complementary data that enhances the precision of cosmic mapping projects. Its continuous sky survey will build one of the most detailed and expansive astrophysical catalogs ever assembled, aiding both professional astronomers and data-driven machine learning models in cosmology.

By enabling deep-field imaging and time-domain surveys, Xuntian will also play a crucial role in detecting rare astronomical events and tracking fast-moving celestial objects such as near-Earth asteroids and distant quasars. Its flexible observation schedule allows for coordinated campaigns with ground-based observatories and space telescopes around the globe.

Why Xuntian Matters

Xuntian is China’s ambitious step into deep-space exploration, mapping the cosmos with precision and expanding humanity’s vision of the universe.

As China’s flagship astronomy mission, Xuntian symbolizes a major leap in the country’s space science capabilities. It not only reflects China’s growing role in global astrophysics but also promises to deliver open-access scientific data to researchers worldwide, fostering international collaboration and discovery in the decade ahead.