On April 24, 1970, China's first man-made satellite Dong Fang Hong-1 was launched successfully on a Long March-1 launch vehicle and China entered the era of exploring the outer space.

On November 26, 1975, China launched a recoverable remote sensing satellite on a Long March launch vehicle. After three days of operation, the satellite returned as planned, making China the third country that had satellite recovery technology. Ever since then, information from the satellite has played a vital role in exploring resources, predicting disasters and mapping topography.

On April 8, 1984, China successfully launched the Dong Fang Hong-2 experimental communications satellite, China's first experimental communications satellite, on a Long March-3 launch vehicle.

On October 25, 1985, the Chinese government announced that the Long March launch vehicle family would offer commercial satellite launch services for foreign users.

On February 1, 1986, China successfully launched its first operational communications broadcast satellite, Dong Fang Hong-2.

In March, 1986, China and Sweden reached an agreement to launch the Swedish Freja on a Long March-2C launch vehicle into polar orbit. This is the first agreement after China announced that the Long March launch vehicle family would provide international satellite commercial launch service.

On September 7, 1988, China launched its first experimental SSO meteorological satellite, the Feng Yun-1. China Meteorological Satellite Ground Receiving Station received visible and infrared pictures with high resolution from the satellite.

On April 7, 1990, China successfully launched the Asiasat-1 communications satellite manufactured by American Hughes Co. The accuracy of orbital injection had reached the advanced international level.

On August 14, 1992, China launched Australian Aptus-B1 communications satellite on a Long March-2E launch vehicle, indicating that China can launch the large commercial satellite.

On June 6, 1993, China established China Aerospace Corporation and China National Space Administration.

On July 21, 1994, China successfully launched Apstar-1 communications satellite on a Long March-3 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center and the satellite accurately entered the preset orbit. The successful launch of the satellite has a great significance in promoting the development of economy in the Asia-Pacific region and providing TV, broadcast and communications services.

On November 30, 1994, China successfully launched a new generation of communications satellite -- Dong Fang Hong-3 on a Long March-3A from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, but the satellite failed to be positioned because of the propellant leakage. On May 12, 1997, the second Dong Fang Hong-3 satellite was launched on a Long March-3A launch vehicle, and on May 20 the satellite was positioned successfully, making a breakthrough in the field of high capacity communications satellite.

On June 10, 1997, China's first generation of geostationary orbit meteorological satellite was launched on a Long March-3 launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite was positioned successfully on June 17.

On May 10, 1999, China's Long March-4B launch vehicle sent the Feng Yun-1 meteorological satellite and SJ-5 scientific experimental satellite into SSO. The SJ-5 is a small scientific experimental satellite, the first one to have adopted the common platform concept design in China.

On October 14, 1999, the China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite-1, jointly developed by China and Brazil, was launched successfully from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on a Long March-4B launch vehicle. The satellite is China's first generation of transmission-type earth remote sensing satellite.

On November 20, 1999, China's first self-developed Shenzhou experimental spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on a newly developed Long March-2F strap-on launch vehicle. The spacecraft returned the following day, signaling a breakthrough in China's manned space technology.

On October 31, 2000, China successfully launched its first navigation and positioning satellite -- Beidou navigation experimental satellite on a Long March-3A. On December 21, China successfully launched the second Beidou experimental navigation satellite. These two satellites constitute Beidou navigation system, indicating that China had the first generation of self-developed satellite navigation and positioning system.

On November 22, 2000, the State Council issued the White Paper on China's Space Activities. The White Paper was divided into four parts:Ⅰ. Aims and Principles; Ⅱ. Present Situation; Ⅲ. Future Development; and Ⅳ. International Cooperation. The White Paper summarized China's achievements in the fields of space technology, space application and space science, and outlined the development targets, development concepts, international cooperation principles, policies, main activities and priorities of China space undertakings.

On January 10, 2001, China successfully launched Shenzhou-2 unmanned experimental spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on a Long March-2F launch vehicle. After completing planned space scientific and technological experiments, the spacecraft touched down in the center of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.