Ministry of Astronautics Industry
Work on rockets started in 1956 at Military Academy 5, which became Ministry 7 in 1964, MOA [Ministry of Aerospace Industry], then CASC [China Aerospace Corporation] in 1993.
In 1958, production of the Russian R-2 missile (Project 1059) commenced at Academy 1, which later became the BWYIC [Beijing Wan Yuan Industry Corp.], then the CALT [Chinese Academy of Launch-Vehicle Technology]. Concurrently, the Academy of Sciences drew up a scientific-satellite program (Project 581), and started work on the realization of meteorological rockets in a Shanghai institute SDIME [?Shanghai Development Institute of Meteorology]. The first R-2 (or DF-1) launch took place on 5 November 1960 from the Jiuquan base. In 1961, Shanghai Bureau 2 began production of tactical missiles. Bureau 2 later became SHBOA [Shanghai Bureau of Astronautics], then SAST [Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology].
In 1965, Ministry 7 took over Academy 1 for long-range rockets (CALT), Academy 2 for ground-to-air missiles (CCF [China Chang Feng]), Academy 3 for cruise missiles (CHETA [China Haiying Electromechanical Technology Academy]), and Academy 4 for solid-fuel motors (ARMT [Academy of Rocket Motors Technology]), as well as the Shanghai Tactical Missiles Bureau and Meteorological Rockets Institute. The Academy of Sciences was then assigned the mission of launching a first satellite in 1970.
The China Great Wall Industrial Corporation was set up by the Ministry of Astronautics Industry, which was responsible for space launch services. The China Aerospace Corporation [CASC] was established in 1993, incorporating the No.5 Research Academy of the Ministry of National Defense, the Seventh Mininstry of Machine Building Industry, the Ministry of Astronautics Industry and the Ministry of Aerospace Industry.
