To satisfy the needs of following-up project of the manned spaceflight and the 2nd and 3rd phase in lunar probe project China is now developing carrier rocket of new generation, officials with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation told reporter of People's Daily.

Based on the mature technology of the current Long March rockets, the new generation of carrier rocket will make breakthroughs in many key techniques. Experiments on 120-ton liquid oxygen/ kerosene engine and 50-ton liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine have succeeded recently.

According to the official, the rocket of new generation will reach international advanced level in terms of carrying capacity, liability and cost control. Its cargo carrying capacity for the low earth orbit will range from 1.5 tons to 25 tons and the carrying capacity for geosynchronous orbit will reach 1.5 to 14 tons.

The new generation of rocket will enhance overall level and capability of Chinese carrier rocket, greatly improve Chinese rocket's international competitiveness and the Long March series' performance and reliability. It will meet demands of China's spaceflight in the future 20 to 30 years and realize great-leap-forward development in China's space technology.

By People's Daily Online