Seventh Ministry of Machine Building

The Seventh Ministry of Machine Building, originally the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of [National Defense of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of National Defense], was a government ministry of the People's Republic of China, established November 23, 1964 by the State Council of the [People's Republic of China|State Council] to oversee the space industry.
In 1960, Qian Xuesen founded the Combat Research Department at the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defence. It was China's first military operations research centre.
In April 1988 the Ministry merged with the Ministry of the Aviation Industry and adopted the name of the Ministry of Aviation and Space Industry.