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China's space program seeks new breakthroughs in five years

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-07 09:42

China will seek three breakthroughs in its space program in the next five years, a former senior commander of the country's manned space mission said Tuesday.

Space walk, lunar exploration and carrier rockets with greater propulsive forces are listed on the top agenda of the country's space program for the 2006-2010 period, said Hu Shixiang, former deputy commander-in-chief for China's manned space mission.

The research on suits for space walking is going on well, and scientists are making progress in docking technology, Hu, a deputy to the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), said during the annual session of the top legislature which opened on Sunday morning.

Hu said the technologies of space walk and docking play a key role in building a skylab and space station.

The building of a skylab was included into the five-year plan of national economic and social development for the 2006-2010 period. The blueprint was submitted to the NPC deputies for examination and approval.

The first satellite for lunar exploration is scheduled for 2007, Hu said.

The development of carrier rockets with greater propulsive force, whose carrying capacity is expected to rise to 25 tons from the current 9.5 tons, is currently on a "crucial" stage, the expert said. The research on this technology was also inked into the five-year plan.