BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- China plans to realize
space-walking, spacecraft rendezvous and docking and set up a space laboratory,
according to a blueprint approved by the State Council.
Meanwhile, the government would also give priority to
developing a satellite, aircraft and stratosphere airship-based high definition
earth observation system, said a senior official with the Commission of Science,
Technology and Industry for National Defence.
The blueprint, framed by the commission, is the 11th
five-year (2006-2010) plan for space development.
The blueprint said China would improve its Compass
navigation system, according to the official.
The system, based on plans to launch five
geostationary earth orbit satellites and 30 medium earth orbit satellites, is
aimed at providing navigation and positioning services in transportation,
meteorology, petroleum prospecting, forest fire monitoring, disaster
forecasting, telecommunications and public security.
Apart from launching the country's first moon
orbiter, China would also study the second and third stages of its lunar
exploration projects, the official said.
China was making final preparations for the launch of
its first moon orbiter at the end of October, Zhang Qingwei, minister in charge
of the commission, said on Tuesday.
Advanced cameras and X-ray spectrometers have been
installed in the orbiter for mapping three-dimensional images of the lunar
surface, analyzing dust, and studying the space environment between the Earth
and the moon.
The next step in the ambitious mission is to launch a
recoverable moon vehicle, he said.
