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 | Thursday, April 27, 2000, updated at 16:16(GMT+8) | ||||||||||||
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Space-tech Maker Refutes US ClaimsA Chinese corporation developed important satellite technology on its own, without the need for scientific secrets from America, officials from the China Great Wall Industry Corp said yesterday, China Daily reported.Company leaders refuted allegations that while developing EPKM, an advanced satellite kick motor (which fires after launch to send a satellite into its final orbit), they had heavy technical assistance from US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin. The US State Department has said China has probably acquired crucial satellite technology (known in the sector as EPKM - the perigee solid kick motor for Long March 2E) from Lockheed Martin in 1994, when the Great Wall company launched the Lockheed Martin-built AsiaSat-2 aboard Long March 2E rocket. The company's spokesman yesterday called the accusations "groundless." On March 2, 1993, the company and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co, signed a contract to launch the AsiaSat-2. The contract included an independent purchase agreement for an EPKM. The selection was based on the fact that China's space industry has 40 years of experience in developing multiple versions of launching vehicles, company officials said. The statement added that Great Wall has mastered mature technology for both liquid and solid motors, and manufactured a variety of solid motors of the similar specifications. During the term of the contract, Chinese experts were invited by Asia Satellite to visit an EPKM factory, company officials said. The visit was monitored by US Government officials, according to the statement.
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