The Chinese Society of Astronautics (simplified Chinese: 中国宇航学会; traditional Chinese: 中國宇航學會; pinyin: Zhōngguó Yǔháng Xuéhuì; abbreviated CSA) is a professional association of individuals with an interest in space. As of 2019, the society has 38 specialized committees and 179 working committees with more than 30,000 individual members.[1]
The initial concept of the Chinese Society of Astronautics was proposed in 1977 and accepted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). The Chinese Society of Astronautics was founded by Qian Xuesen, Ren Xinmin and Zhang Zhenhuan on October 23, 1979. In September 1980 it became a member of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).[2]