China has reached a critical milestone in preparing its flagship space observatory, the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), with the successful development of a comprehensive scientific data simulation system. The breakthrough, announced this week, positions the Xuntian Space Telescope to deliver unprecedented insights into the cosmos after its anticipated 2026 launch.
Scientists created an end-to-end simulation suite for the telescope’s optical system and observation terminals, achieving pixel-level accuracy in modeling observational data. This innovation enables rigorous testing of the telescope’s capabilities and data processing workflows before its deployment.
Published in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics on January 7, 2026, the research addresses one of space astronomy’s greatest challenges: ensuring instrument reliability in extreme environments. The simulations will guide calibration processes and help prioritize observational targets during the telescope’s operational phase.
As the most advanced space-based optical observatory developed in Asia, the Xuntian is designed to survey 40% of the sky with a field of view 300 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. This simulation breakthrough underscores China’s growing role in cutting-edge space research and international scientific collaboration.
