Designed for longevity, the CSST will be fully repairable and upgradable from space, enhancing its operational capabilities.

The telescope will observe light across a spectrum from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared, enabling a wide array of astronomical studies.

Positioned to orbit near the Chinese Tiangong space station, the CSST will benefit from easier servicing and upgrades compared to other space telescopes.

China's space agency is developing the China Space Station Telescope (CSST) to rival the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Set to launch no earlier than 2026, the CSST will feature a 6.6-foot (2-meter) primary mirror and boast a field of view 300 times greater than that of the Hubble Space Telescope.

One of its primary missions will be to measure weak gravitational lensing, which will help map the distribution of dark matter in the universe.

In addition to dark matter, the CSST will study voids and clusters of galaxies to gain insights into dark energy and its influence on the universe's expansion.

The telescope will also search for supernovas and measure baryon acoustic oscillations, contributing to our understanding of cosmic evolution.

Once operational, the CSST aims to coordinate with other major telescopes, such as the Euclid and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, to provide complementary data.