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To all NSSC staff, students, retirees, and partners of the global space science community,

  As we welcome 2026, I extend warm New Year’s greetings on behalf of the National Space Science Center.

  2025 marked the end of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, a period of national progress that enabled significant advances in space science. At NSSC, we remain devoted to exploring the universe and expanding the frontiers of knowledge. In the past year, we have taken concrete steps forward:

  We strengthened global observation capabilities: The Chinese Meridian Project (Phase II) passed national acceptance, enhancing space weather monitoring, while the International Meridian Circle Program was initiated to foster worldwide collaboration.

  We advanced key international cooperation: The Solar wind-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) completed its 10-year Odyssey and now is ready for launch. It is scheduled to lift off from the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana on April 9, 2026, demonstrating deep, mission-level partnership across continents.

  We sustained scientific discoveries: Missions including DAMPE, HXMT, ASO-S, and EP continue to deliver high-quality data and high-impact output, uncovering new insights into dark matter, black holes, solar activities, and cosmic transients.

  We kicked off the Origin Space Science Progarm: A new series of space science missions, namely, DSL, SPO, eXTP, and ET, started implementation, exploring realms from the exoplanets to the dark age of the universe, discovering origins of solar activities and the extremes of the universe.  

  Looking forward, 2026 opens the 15th Five-Year Plan period and will be a year of decisive action. Guided by scientific excellence, we will embark on an unswerving strategic path.

  In the year ahead, we will focus on turning plans into reality: ensuring the launch of SMILE, supporting upcoming national missions, and advancing the Origin program, to probe fundamental questions about the Sun, cosmology, exoplanets, and the physics of the extreme universe..

  Every great journey starts from the origin. As we stand at this new beginning, let us embrace 2026 with the same pioneering spirit that has always guided us—continuously seeking answers to the universe's most fundamental questions, for the benefit of all humanity.

  Wishing everyone a successful, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

  Sincerely,

  WANG Chi

  Director General, NSSC, CAS