BEIJING: China is expected to launch an unprecedented number of spacecraft this year as the country continues to advance its space exploration programs.
In January, China has launched Kuaizhou-1A rocket and the world’s largest solid rocket Gravity-1, performed the docking of Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft with its space station and completed the vertical return test of a reusable rocket.
Going forward, China plans to launch two cargo spacecraft and two manned spacecraft to its space station.
“According to the plan of this year, the Long March-2F (carrier rockets) will carry out two manned launch missions. The Long March-2F Y18 rocket is in good condition at the launch site and the Y19 rocket has completed its final assembly,” said Liu Feng, chief designer of Long March-2F carrier rockets.
In addition, the Chang’e-6 lunar probe is undergoing tests at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Site, and it will land at the far side of the Moon in the first half of the year to carry out the world’s first sample collection from the area.
The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year proposed to build a number of strategic emerging industries such as commercial spaceflight. As a result, the commercial space industry is anticipated to experience rapid growth and development this year.
China’s first commercial space launch site in Wenchang, south China’s Hainan Province, will see its first flight, and the construction of multiple satellite constellations will be accelerated this year.
