CAST was established on 20 February, 1968, and is located in Haidian district of northeastern Beijing. CAST is one of the seven design academies under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). It employs over 10,000 persons in ten research institutes and two factories which develop and produce scientific and application satellites.

CAST is one of China's major research, design, and manufacturing centers for space technology. It oversees institutes and factories related to research, development and production of communications, space-based ISR systems, and weather satellites. It lays the groundwork for future navigation satellites, data relay satellites, space shuttles and space stations. CAST is currently capable of producing 4-6 satellites per year, and is also responsible for the research and development of sounding rockets. The Dongfanghong-4 (DFH-4), a high capacity telecommunications satellite, is currently under development.

China has launched 30-40 satellites designed by CAST over the past 30 years, including telecommunications and broadcasting, meteorological and scientific experimentation satellites. China's space program, part of which involves military research, reportedly has a budget of over ten billion yuan.

In August 1993, CAST was sanctioned as a subsidiary of CASC by the United States for its involvement in missile-related sales to Pakistan.

Institutes and their subsidiaries (further indented) under CAST include:

• Beijing Institute of Control Engineering, "502nd Research Institute"
  Research and development of attitude control systems. Over 1400 personnel; established in 1956 under CAS.
• Beijing Control Science and Technology Development Corporation
• Beijing Institute of Environmental Test Engineering, "511th Research Institute"
  Facilities in Beijing and Huairou.
• Beijing Tianxing Environmental Engineering Corporation
• Beijing Institute of Satellite Information Engineering, "503rd Research Institute"
  Design, research and development of satellite applications and communications technology, including ground segments of FY-2 weather satellite and GPS receivers. Involved in China's indigenous effort to develop satellite navigation system (RDSS). More than 300 personnel; established 1986.
• Beijing Xinghang Technology Development Corporation
• Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Systems Engineering, "501st Research Institute"
  Responsible for satellite systems engineering. Established in 1968.
• Beijing Hongyu Space Technology Application Corporation
• Beijing Institute of Space Machinery and Electronic Engineering, "508th Research Institute"
  Design, research and development of remote sensing and recoverable vehicle technology. Located adjacent to CALT facilities in Nanyuan.
• Beijing Keya New Technology Development Corporation
• Beijing Institute of Space Science and Technology Information
• Beijing Xinghai Electronic Technology Corporation
• Beijing Orient Scientific Instrument Factory, "529 Factory"
  Final assembly for satellite systems.
• Beijing Space Tianshi Technology Corporation
• Beijing Space Technology Development and Application Corporation
• Beijing Satellite Manufacturing Factory
• Beijing Xingda Technology Development Corporation
• Beijing Techen Property Group
• Beijing Xiang Yu Space Technology Group
• Lanzhou Institute of Physics, "510th Research Institute"
  Conducts research into optical cryogenics, microgravity, and radiation effects.
• Lanzhou Hua Yu Technology Development Corporation
• Shanghai Scientific Instrument Factory
• Shanghai Weite Technology Development Corporation
• Shanghai Shenzhou Property Management Corporation
• Shantou Institute of Electronic Technology Equipment
• Shantou S.E.Z. Yuhua Technology Corporation
• Shanxi Taihua Institute of Electromechanical Equipment
• Suzhou Techen Industry Corporation
• Xian Institute of Space Radio Engineering, "504th Research Institute"
  Design, research and development of space communications, remote sensing, and spacecraft TT&C. Produces electronic systems, including TWTs, CCD camera and microwave data links, and antennas. 1200 personnel.
• Xian Space Star Group
• Yantai Telemetry Technology Institute, "513th Research Institute"
• Small Satellite Research Institute
  Research and development of micro-satellites and "parasitic" satellites.
• Yantai Huayu Space Technology Corporation

Sources:

James H. Hughes, "The Current Status of China's Military Space Program," The Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies, Winter 2002; "China Plans Ten Satellite Launches by 2000," ITAR/TASS, 24 February 1998; "Launching of New Satellites Announced," China Daily, 23 February 1998; Major Mark A. Stokes, China's Strategic Modernization: Implications for US National Security, October 1997, Appendix One; Yan Kong and Tim McCarthy, "China's Missile Bureaucracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, January 1993, p. 40; Risk Report, May 1995, p. 6; Air and Cosmos/Aviation International (Paris), 25 October 1996, in FBIS-CST-96-020, 25 October 1996. CAST company literature, 1999; "Overview of CASC and its Institutes," Beijing Zhongguo Hangtian [Chinese], 1 October 2002.