China issues white paper on space activities[Full Text]
www.chinaview.cn 2006-10-12 10:21:09

    China will carry out research on short-term manned and long-term autonomously orbiting space laboratories, which is of certain application scale, and carry out follow-up work of manned spaceflight, it says.

Photo taken on Oct. 17, 2005 shows the re-entry capsule of China's second manned spacecraft, Shenzhou-6, at its landing site in Siziwang Banner (County), north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou-6 sapcecraft, which blasted off on Oct. 12 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, touched down at the landing site in Siziwang Banner, at 4:33 am Oct. 17 (2033 GMT) following a five-day mission.
Photo taken on Oct. 17, 2005 shows the re-entry capsule of China's second manned spacecraft, Shenzhou-6, at its landing site in Siziwang Banner (County), north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou-6 sapcecraft, which blasted off on Oct. 12 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, touched down at the landing site in Siziwang Banner, at 4:33 am Oct. 17 (2033 GMT) following a five-day mission. (Xinhua Photo)

    On October 15 and 16, 2003, China launched and retrieved the "Shenzhou V" manned spacecraft, China's first of its kind. Having mastered the basic technologies for manned spacecraft, China became the third country in the world to develop manned spaceflight independently.

    From October 12 to 17, 2005, the "Shenzhou VI" manned spacecraft completed a five-day flight with two astronauts on board. This was the first time for China to have men engage in experiments in space.

    In its space plan, China will realize lunar-orbiting probe in the coming five years, making breakthroughs in developing basic technologies for lunar exploration.

    China will develop and launch its first lunar probe satellite "Chang'e I" for lunar science and lunar resources exploration, andcarry out final-period work for the lunar exploration project.

    To further consolidate the nation's position in the world spaceindustry and boost its space programs, China is aiming to building" world-class large space corporations" to provide a market-based mechanism of development.

    The Chinese government will increase input to the space industry, and at the same time encourage the establishment of a diverse, multi-channel space funding system, so as to guarantee the sustainable and stable development of the space industry, the white paper says.

    China's space programs today is now solely funded by the government. Enditem

China signs 16 int'l space cooperation agreements, memorandums

    BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China has signed 16 international space cooperation agreements and memorandums with 13 countries, space agencies and international organizations over the past five years, said a white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2006" and released by the Information Office of the State Council on Thursday.

China's astronauts to realize extravehicular operations in 5 years

    BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China aims to enable its astronauts to engage in extravehicular operations in the coming five years, according to a white paper on China's space activities issued here on Thursday.

China to give priority to development of applied satellites

    BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China will give priority to the development of applied satellites and construct a comprehensive chain of space industry covering satellite manufacturing, launching services, ground equipment production and operational services in the coming five years.

China to develop powerful carrier rockets of new generation


    BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China plans to develop nontoxic, pollution-free, high-performance, low-cost and powerful thrust carrier rockets of the new generation in the coming five years, according to a white paper released on Thursday.


Editor: Pliny Han
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