China plans to develop a new generation of carrier rockets with
an increased payload capacity in order to advance its lunar
exploration program, according to the China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation.
The payload capacity of China's Long March series of carrier
rockets will be increased from its current weight of 9.5 tons to 25
tons, an official with the corporation said.
"The development will greatly increase China's ability of
peaceful uses of outer space," the official said, without
specifying when the rockets will be ready for launch.
Huang Chunping, a leading Chinese aerospace expert, said the new
generation of carrier rockets would have a large enough payload
from which to launch a space station.
China on June 1 launched "SinoSat-3", a communications satellite
for radio and television broadcasting, from a Long March-3A carrier
rocket, marking the 100th flight of the Long March series.
(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2007)