BEIJING — In recent years, China’s space exploration missions have significantly advanced, with successful astronaut missions to its own space station and lunar rock retrieval operations. The country is now emphasizing the application of these achievements toward scientific progress.

On Tuesday, the Chinese Academy of Sciences introduced an ambitious roadmap to establish itself as a leading force in global space science by the year 2050. The proposal encompasses various research topics, including investigations into black holes, Mars, and Jupiter, as well as the pursuit of potentially habitable planets and the search for signs of life beyond Earth.

Ding Chibiao, a vice president at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, acknowledged at a recent press briefing that the nation’s research in space science is still at a nascent stage. He emphasized the importance of overcoming this weakness as China aims to solidify its status as an aerospace powerhouse.

This plan, developed in collaboration with the China National Space Administration and the China Manned Space Engineering Office, aspires to produce remarkable achievements that exert substantial international influence. These advancements are expected to foster innovations and enhance China’s stature in space research.

In addition to their space station, which is already in orbit, Chinese space authorities have successfully deployed an explorer to Mars. The nation has set its sights on sending humans to the moon prior to 2030, an endeavor that would place China in the ranks of countries, alongside the United States, that have achieved a manned lunar landing. Furthermore, China aims to establish a research station on the moon to facilitate ongoing scientific inquiries.

These lunar aspirations are part of a broader competition with the U.S., which continues to lead in space exploration, alongside countries such as Japan and India. The United States is gearing up for the return of astronauts to the moon for the first time in over half a century, despite delaying its target to 2026 earlier this year.

In a related development, the U.S. recently launched a spacecraft that is set to embark on a 5-and-a-half-year journey towards Jupiter. The mission’s objective is to examine one of the planet’s moons to investigate whether its vast, concealed ocean could potentially harbor the ingredients essential for life.