China's New Carrier Rocket Long March-7 Cleaner, Stronger

The new generation Long March-7 carrier rocket is ready for its maiden mission.The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on the northeast coast of Hainan Province is expected to launch the rocket in the next few days. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Li Jin]

China's new generation carrier rocket the Long March-7 will leave no pollution as burning of its propellants produces only carbon dioxides and water, according to a project insider.

Hu Xiaojun, deputy chief designer assistant, said on Thursday the new rocket relies on liquid oxygen and kerosene as fuel, cheaper and less dangerous than the propellants used by some of the earlier rockets.

Designed for transporting cargo ships, the carrying capacity of the medium-sized rocket is 1.5 times that of previous, bigger rockets. It is due for launch between June 25 and 29 from Wenchang, a new launch location in south China's Hainan Province.

The rocket will stay on the launch pad until at least Saturday, the beginning of its five-day launch window.

Launches from the new site, which is much closer to the equator than the other three, can take advantage of the Earth's higher rotational speed to save fuel.