China is now capable of sending a lunar probe to the moon with it
existing carrier rocket, but it still needs a stronger carrier
rocket to fulfill the mission of both sending a lunar probe to the
moon and enabling it to return to the earth, said a leading Chinese
carrier rocket scientist for its manned spacecraft program.
Sources noted that China is thinking of developing a new-generation
of rocket carriers with a much stronger propelling power to fulfill
the mission.
Huang Chunping, chief commander of the carrier rocket system of
China's manned spacecraft program, said the technology and carrying
capacity of the country's carrier rocket has overtaken the
capacities of the first round of carrier rockets of the US and the
former Soviet Union at a time when they began probing the moon
three to four decades ago.
Huang, a National Committee member of the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said China's space
rocket carrying capacity has landed itself on the top ranks in the
world. So far, the country's Long-March series of carrier rockets
have made 69 launches, and 63 of them were crowned with
success.
The Long-March 2-F rocket, used to launch the Shenzhou spacecraft,
is capable of fulfilling the mission for a lunar probe provided
that it is installed with an additional propeller.
(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2003)