The government agency for the People’s Republic of China that manages the nation’s space activities. Founded in 1993, the organization is based in Beijing and operates three launch facilities: Shuang Cheng Tzu, Taiyuan, and Xichang. CNSA developed China’s Shenzhou spacecraft, which carried the nation’s first taikonaut (Yang Liwei) into Earth orbit, making China the third nation (after the Soviet Union and the United States) to achieve piloted space flight. In 2013, CNSA successfully placed its first lander (Chang’e 3) and robotic explorer (Yutu) on the Moon.