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"At present, China's manned program is progressing well," said
Sun Laiyan, Director of the National Space Administration (NSA), at
a press conference held by the Information Office of the State
Council on October 12. "We anticipate that by 2008 we will enable
astronauts to engage in space walks and conduct spacecraft
rendezvous and docking."
China will also send women astronauts, scientists, philosophers
and even journalists into orbit in the future, Sun added.
According to the NSA head, China's unmanned lunar probe plan
encompasses three phases, namely "orbiting, landing and
retrieving." The general assembly of the Chang'e 1 survey satellite
has been completed and it is expected to be launched sometime next
year, Sun said.
While answering questions on why China has developed a powerful
new-generation thrust carrier rocket, Sun explained that a
country's capability to enter space has a direct bearing on its
strength in space exploration.
After the new-generation carrier rocket is successfully
manufactured, it will increase the carrying capacity of China's
near-earth orbiters to 25 tons, and that of geostationary orbiters
to 14 tons, which will meet the national need in launching future
satellites and spacecrafts. Sun acknowledged that China has made
remarkable progress in the development of new carrier rockets over
the past five years.
Sun also revealed that China has not made a plan for a Mars
probe, though some Chinese scientists and engineers are carrying
out some preliminary studies on it. China looks forward to
conducting relevant deep-space exploration through international
cooperation, he continued.
Talking about the possibility of developing space tourism, Sun
said that to send people into space, the first and most important
thing is to ensure their safe return. Though China's current manned
space activities are still in the experimental stage, the NSA head
pledged space tourism might begin once technology matures. Sun
stressed that outer space is the common wealth of mankind. China
opposes the behavior to sell lunar land, which violates some
international conventions.
(China.org.cn)
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