China's first research institute of space aerodynamic technology officially opened in Beijing on October 15, located on China's first experimental wind tunnel base, sources from China's Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense said.

The predecessor of the new research institute is the Beijing Institute of Aerodynamics (BIA). BIA, founded in 1956, is the first ever large-scale aerodynamic research and experimental base for China's aerospace industry.

BIA has scored achievements in China's aeronautic experiments on space shuttles and missiles as well as other weapons. BIA also successfully helped the Shenzhou-5 capsule, China's first manned spacecraft, solve problems of stability during its flight and heatproof.

The new research institute is operated by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

"Establishment of the new research institute is vital to the aerodynamic research for future development of weapons and space vehicles, facing China's modernization of national defense," CASC official said.

Li Feng, director of the new research institute, said that the institute has 22 sets of special aerodynamic test facilities including subsonic, hypersonic wind tunnels, electric arc heaters and arc tunnels.