Major breakthroughs are expected by 2010 in the country's
ambitious space programs - from manned flights to the lunar probe -
a senior space administrator said yesterday.
Scientists are working toward astronaut space walks, and
spacecraft rendezvous and docking procedures by the end of the
decade, said Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space
Administration.
The deep space exploration program aims to achieve the first
phase goal of the lunar probe, which is to have the orbiter Chang'e
I circle the moon, he said.
"Chang'e I has already reached the launch site in Xichang of
Sichuan Province, and is ready for launch due before the end of the
year," he said.
The launch date was not specified but earlier media reports have
suggested it is likely by the end of this month.
Also by 2010, research work will begin on the moon probe
project's second and third phases, which are landing on the moon
and returning to Earth, he said.
In addition, research and development of a new design of a
carrier rocket will be in full swing during the same period, he
said.
Using non-toxic and non-polluting engines, the new generation
carrier rockets are expected to be able to carry up to 25 tons to
near-earth orbits and 14 tons to geosynchronous orbits, giving
China the same launch capabilities as developed countries, he
said.
The current indigenously-developed Long March series of rockets
can carry 9 tons to an orbit 300 km from Earth, or send satellites
of 5 tons to a geosynchronous orbit 36,000 km away.
In 2003, China launched its first manned space mission, making
it the third country to send a lone human into orbit, after Russia
and the United States.
(China Daily October 12, 2007)