The first DFH-1 satellite was launched on 24 April 1970. The staff of over 10,000 also develops and manufactures spaceeraft ground support equipments and satellite application facilities. It has developed technology for the recovery of satellites, multiple satellite launches from a single launch vehicle, and the positioning of geosynchronous communications satellites. Activities of the research institutes and factories under CAST include the development, design and production application satellites, sounding rockets and related technical engineering projects. These units also supply technology and equipment in the fields of vacuum, low temperature, automatic control, remote sensing, radio and precision machinery.
| Entity | Corporation | Location | Staff | Director | Activities |
| 501st Research Institute | Responsible for satellite systems engineering. Established in 1968. | ||||
| 502nd Research Institute | Beijing Institute of Control Engineering (BICE) | 1400 | R&D of attitude control systems. Established 1956 under CAS. | ||
| 503rd Research Institute | Beijing Institute of Satellite Information Engineering (BISIE) | 300 | R&D of satellite applications and communications technology. | ||
| 504th Research Institute | Xian Institute of Space Radio Engineering | 1200 | R&D of space communications, remote sensing, and spacecraft TT&C. Produces space electronic systems, including TWTs, CCD camera and microwave data links, and antennas. | ||
| 508th Research Institute | Beijing Institute of Space Machinery and Electronics (BISME) | Nanyuan | R&D of remote sensing and recoverable vehicle technology | ||
| 510th Research Institute | Lanzhou Institute of Physics | research in optical cryogenics, microgravity, and radiation effects | |||
| 511th Research Institute | Beijing Institute of Environmental Test Engineering | Beijing and Huairou | |||
| 513rd Research Institute | Yantai Telemetry Technology Institute | ||||
| 529 Factory | Beijing Orient Scientific Instrument Factory | 1200 | Final assembly for satellite systems | ||
| Beijing Satellite Manufacturing Factory | |||||
| Beijing Center of Space Science and Technical Information | |||||
| Beijing Institute of Environmental Test Engineering | |||||
| Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Systems Engineering | |||||
| Beijing Orient Institute of Measurement | |||||
| Beijing Space Technology Development and Application Corporation | |||||
| Shanghai Institute of Spacecraft Engineering | |||||
| Shanghai Scientific Instrument Factory | |||||
| Shantou Institute of Electronic Technology Equipment | |||||
| Shanxi Taihua Institute of Electronic Machinery Equipment | |||||
| Xian Institute of Space Radio Technology Engineering |
The Beijing Institute of Control Instrumentation (BICI) engages in research and development of aerospace inetial technology, electromechanical integrated precision instruments, precision machinery, control instruments and systems. Over the past 30 years, the institute has developed dozens of inertial measurement systems and instruments, including systems for the Long March and East Wind rockets. The Institute has also transferred technology into related civil application, and has developed pharmaceutical and other civil technology and products.
The Beijing Institute of Control Engineering (BICE) undertakes research related to spacecraft control engineering. Spacecraft thrusters are built by the Institute. BICE has made progress in transferring spacecraft technologies for use in other areas of national economy in areas of control systems, computer applications, and precision optical instruments. BICE established Control Technology Development Corporation in the Beijing New Technology Development Zone and formed a civilian product development team composed of branches of technolgy, manufacture and trade.
The Beijing Institute of Space Machinery and Electronics (BISME), located adjacent to 1st Academy facilities in Nanyuan, it engaged in R&D of remote sensing and recoverable vehicle technology. It is responsible for the development of sounding rockets, space remote sensing systems and recovery technology. With strong professional personnel and fine facilities. In the past 35 years, BISME has made contributions in sounding rockets, space recovery, space remote sensing, manufacturing of composite material structures and civilian products.
The Beijing Institute of Satellite Information Engineering (BISIE) is engaged in the design, research and manufacture of satellite information receiving and processing, ground application system and computer application. Established 1986, major projects include the ground segments of FY-2 weather satellite and GPS receivers. The Institute is involved in China’s indigenous effort to develop satellite nagivation system (RDSS). The main tasks of BISIE include research on satellite application technology and manufacture of ground equipment, tracking and monitoring of satellites, research and manufacture of autonomous spacecarfts navigation and positioning as well as attitude determination, satellite remote sensing, image pre-processing, management of information and application of communication service technology. In addition, it builds various ground stations for satellite communication, TV reception, and meteorological cloud chart reception. The National Engineering Research Center for Industrial Control Devices was founded in 1992, attached to the No. 502 Institute of the China AeroSpace Corporation. With a staff of 125, there are 6 development departments, 2 sales departments, a market departments, a user's service departments, a manufacture departments, a material departments, an office, a chief engineer's office, and a quality control office. Work is focused on the design and development of management information system and measurement, control and management systems.