China's space industry is set for big changes, but economist Shen Yingchun warns it shouldn't follow SpaceX as blueprint . After SpaceX's massive IPO pulled in US$75 billion, making CEO Elon Musk the first trillionaire,Shen argues China must carve its own path.
Shen, professor at Beihang University,says the U.S. thrives on market-driven methods that cut costs and push innovation. But China's commercial space sector has different plans. It's focusing on building out satellite infrastructure first before worrying about cutting costs.
"China does not need to and cannot copy SpaceX," Shen told Beijing Daily. The Chinese model taps national resources to tackle infrastructure,standards,and risks—areas where markets often don't deliver. This focus on scale might let China leap forward in space .
Once infrastructure is in place, Shen believes China’s space industry could break new ground in areas like smart cities and low-altitude economy . With a focus on building out its satellite network,China might see some big developments…but how soon?
