From 1977 to 2025, China and France have reached for the stars, building one of the most enduring space partnerships in the world. This year marks 48 years of collaboration that has taken us from early exchanges to cutting-edge satellites. 🌌
1977: The First Step 🚀
It all began in 1977, when a delegation from China's aerospace technology sector visited French research centers. These early meetings planted the seeds for decades of cooperation in earth observation, satellite development, and more.
1997: Formal Agreement Signed ✍️
Twenty years later, both governments signed a landmark agreement, accelerating joint work in deep space exploration, lunar missions, and manned flight. This deal opened the door to shared resources, expertise, and data.
2018: A New Era with CFOSat 🛰️
On October 29, 2018, a Long March-2C rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, deploying the China–France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSat). Jointly developed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and France's Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), CFOSat marked the transition to co-developed satellites and real-time data sharing.
As we wrap up 2025, this partnership continues to inspire young scientists, entrepreneurs, and space enthusiasts around the world. With new missions on the horizon, the sky is only the beginning. 🌠
Reference(s):
Looking at key moments in 48 years of China-France space cooperation
cgtn.com
