Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 18, 2003
China sets new monthly record in space launches
China's record space launches from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 indicate China's improved capability in technological development and manufacturing in the space field and space project management, a senior space expert said Monday.
China's record space launches from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 indicate China's improved capability in technological development and manufacturing in the space field and space project management, a senior space expert said Monday.
Zhang Qingwei, general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., the manufacturer of the country's Long March carrier rockets and spacecraft, said his corporation had successfully launched the Shenzhou-5 manned spacecraft and four satellites in the period.
Zhang said the launches represented a record high in a month both in the number of launches and the rate of successful launches.
China's first manned spacecraft was rocketed into space on Oct.15 and returned to the Earth safely the next day.
China's Long March IV B carried the second Earth resources satellite developed jointly by China and Brazil and another China-made small satellite into different preset orbits on Oct. 21 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province, north China.
China launched a recoverable science experimental satellite into a preset orbit atop a Long March 2 D carrier rocket on Nov. 3from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province, northwest China.
On Nov. 15, China launched a communication satellite into a preset orbit atop a Long March 3 A carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province, southwest China.
The Nov. 15 launch represents China's 32nd consecutive success in space launch using the Long March rocket series since October 1996.
With 103,000 employees, the aerospace corporation is also the country's major satellite manufacturer.