Nation Marks Satellite Launch

Thirty years ago, China successfully put its first satellite into orbit aboard a Chinese-made Long March-1 rocket.

Now, after launching 67 domestic and foreign-manufactured satellites into space, China is aiming to consolidate its status in the global space sector and boost economic growth by applying aerospace technology.

During a ceremony in Beijing on Sunday marking the country's maiden successful satellite launch on April 24, 1970, Wang Liheng, president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), said despite the substantial gap between China and advanced countries, China has laid a solid foundation for the future expansion of its space sector.

Over the past decades, China has sent 44 home-made communications, meteorological, scientific research and earth resource surveying satellites, contributing significantly to the country's social progress and national defence, said Wang.

The country has established and improved a research, development, experiment and production system and nurtured many talented people to catapult its space industry to new heights in the coming century, said Wang.

"We will further improve the payload capacity and reliability of China's Long March launch vehicle series and make the rocket propellant pollution free, while raising the quality and success rate of the rockets," Wang said.

"This will mean better launch services for customers at home and abroad."

Long March rockets have to date been launched 60 times, achieving a success rate of 90 per cent, which is at the world's top level, according to CASC statistics.

Wang also said the CASC and other departments will accelerate research on manned space travel and deep space probing technology. He declined to say when China will send astronauts into space.

Asked about China's space development priorities, both the CASC executive and Xu Fuxiang, president of Chinese Academy of Space Technology, said China will step up research and development and application of civilian satellites.

China is also negotiating with some countries to export satellites, according to an expert attending Sunday's gathering.

Yesterday's ceremony also provided people with a venue to reflect on the experiences and goals of China's space industry.

Qi Faren, who had participated in the design of both China's first man-made satellite and unmanned experimental spaceship, attributed the space sector's achievements to the central government's dedication to aerospace projects, and the hard work and ingenuity of Chinese scientists and engineers.

Also at Sunday's ceremony, more than 20 scholars from the Chinese academies of sciences and engineering selected China's top 10 space achievements of the 20th century.

They voted for the successful launches of China's first man-made satellite, recoverable satellite, geostationary communication satellite and the "Shenzhou" unmanned experimental space vessel.







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