China Academy of Space Technology

The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) is China's primary spacecraft design and manufacturing organisation, established on 20 February 1968 as part of CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation), a state-owned enterprise. ^[1] Headquartered in Haidian District, Beijing, CAST was responsible for the first Chinese satellite, Dong Fang Hong I, launched on 24 April 1970.

CAST designs and manufactures major Earth observation satellite series, including the Gaofen high-resolution optical and SAR series, the Ziyuan resource-mapping series (including ZY-3 stereo imaging and laser altimeter missions), the Haiyang ocean observation series, and the Yaogan reconnaissance satellites. As of 2023, CAST has produced more than 430 spacecraft with around 280 in orbit. ^[2] Employee figures differ by source: one estimate places staff at over 10,000 ^[2] while a separate industry listing cites approximately 22,000 as of 2023. ^[3]

In August 2022, two CAST institutes (502 and 513) were added to the US Department of Commerce Entity List.