Thirty-five application satellites are scheduled to be developed
and launched in the next five years in China, announced a vice
general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology
Corporation (CASC), Thursday at the on-going China Western Forum.
Hu
Hongfu told the press that these satellites will be mainly used for
economic development including those for live-broadcasts,
telecommunications, meteorology, resources, navigation, marine
services, and disaster-relief.
The vice general manager said that development of these satellites
will play an active role in the country's ambitious economic plan
and that of the western region in particular.
He
said the project for a direct-broadcast television satellite has
already started and is to be launched in 2004. "It can provide
transmission service for high-quality TV programs, education and
information."
Meanwhile, the launch of a seed breeding satellite in 2003 will
cultivate suitable seeds for the western climate and help the
agricultural advancement there, he added.
The corporation has developed five types of satellites such as
remote-sensing return satellites, Dongfanghong broadcasting
satellites and Fengyun meteorological satellites.
（Eastday
09/07/2001）