The launching of Shenzhou spacecraft marked a new era of the development of the Chinese aerospace technology. On 22nd November, 2000, the Information Office of the PRC State Council issued the white paper, China's Civil Aviation and Aerospace in 21st Century, to layout the targets of the future Chinese aerospace development.

Short-term Targets (around 2010) : 

1. To set up a network of remote sensing satellites to conduct long-term dynamic monitoring on the weather, oceans, resources, environment and disasters of China, its perimeter and even the whole world.

2. To launch Chinese commercial broadcasting and communication satellites in order to assist the development of Chinese communication industry.

3. To establish a Chinese global positioning system.

4. To develop new generation launch rocket with larger lift-off thrust. The new rocket will use environmental friendly propellants like liquid oxygen, kerosene or liquid hydrogen. In addition, modular design will be used to increase the market share in world satellite launching industry.

5. To realize manned space project.

6. To establish a series of science and technology satellites to enhance researches on microgravity, material science, life science, space environment and astronomy.

7. To start steering researches on space exploration. The main target will be the Moon.

Long-term Targets (around 2020) :

1. To popularize space technology and applications to the commercial market.

2. To establish a practical network system integrating the space and the Earth through infrastructure in space consisting of satellites with different functions and orbits.

3. To establish Chinese manned space technology system. Space station will also be set up to conduct relatively large-scale manned scientific and technological researches.

4. To develop unique deep space explorations and researches (Moon and Mars?) and raise the status of China in the academic arena of space science.