China will focus on upgrading the overall level and capacity of its
satellite carrier rockets and fulfil its push for a manned space
flight in the "near-term," participants at an international
aviation and aerospace forum have been told.
A
high ranking official said the performance and reliability of the
nation's existing Long March series - used to launch 30
foreign-made satellites since 1985 - will be upgraded and the
development of next generation launch vehicles will be concentrated
on producing non-toxic, non-polluting and low cost units.
A
focus on providing international commercial launch services will
continue and complete the research, development and testing system
for a manned space flight is in the making.
At
the China International Aviation and Aerospace Forum 2002, Ma
Xingrui, vice-president of the China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation said yesterday the space technology would
assist the country to further advance its satellite research.
China has more than 600 satellite-related institutions and
departments with almost 10,000 technicians involved in the
research, development, testing and application of satellite remote
sensing.
China has a remote sensing satellite ground station capable of
receiving data from electro-optical or radar-based satellites.
Many satellites are used by provinces and municipalities to gain
survey information, in addition to monitoring crop estimation and
disaster assessment.
Ma
said meteorological satellite systems have greatly improved the
accuracy of weather forecasts, helping to reduce economic losses
from natural disasters by several billion yuan.
(China
Daily November 4, 2002)