Three Chinese scientists from the country's Chang'e-4 lunar landing mission team have won the highest award by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) – the 2020 IAF World Space Award.

This is the first time that the honor is presented to Chinese aerospace scientists since the IAF was founded 70 years ago.

This year's award recipients are Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's Chang'e lunar programs and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Yu Dengyun, deputy chief designer of Chang'e programs and deputy director of science and technology at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp; and Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the Chang'e-4 probe and a top researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology.

According to the IAF, the World Space Award is presented for an outstanding contribution or contributions in space science, space technology, space medicine, space law or space management of exceptional impact to the world's progress in astronautics.