Expansionary Institute

Forum Admin
futurist3000@aol.com

 
BEIJING, March 14 (Reuters) - China is working on prototypes of space rockets that will bring it closer to its long cherished dream of putting a man into space, the China Daily newspaper said on Thursday.

A preliminary study on the rockets, aimed at stepping up China's space program and international satellite services, has ended and efforts have shifted to the research and manufacturing of prototypes, it said.

The new rockets, to be powered by liquid hydrogen, would bring the launch capacity of Chinese rockets closer in line with technology used elsewhere, it said.

"The new rockets can be used to send large-scale astronomical telescopes and explorers to the moon and Mars," the paper said.

"Developing the new generation of launch vehicles is key to maintaining the country's edge in the world aerospace field," president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) Zhang Qingwei was quoted as saying.

China has tested two unmanned space flights since 1999 in preparation for sending astronauts into space.

The newspaper quoted Zhuang Fenggan, chairman of the CASC Science and Technology Commission as saying China planned to launch its first unmanned space station "at an appropriate time this century."

Chinese leaders are eager for the prestige of joining the United States and former Soviet Union as the only countries to put a person into space.

Fast developing China -- which has launched satellites for U.S. and Brazilian operators -- is also vying for a bigger slice of the lucrative market for launching commercial satellites.

State-run Xinhua news agency said in January that China planned to launch about 10 satellites, rockets and spacecraft this year as part of its ambitious space programme.

China's space industry suffered a string of setbacks in 1995 and 1996, including the deaths of a family of six after a Long March 2E rocket carrying a telecommunications satellite exploded after blast-off from Xichang.

00:32 03-14-02

Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited.  All rights reserved.  Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.  Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.