China issues white paper on space exploration
2011-12-29 10:11:01
Full Text: China's Space Activities in 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2011-12/29/c_131333479.htm
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday issued a white paper on the development of space industry since 2006 and the major tasks for the next five years.
The white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2011" was the third white paper on the country's space activities issued by the State Council Information Office, following the one in 2000 and another in 2006.
The Chinese government has made the space industry an important part of the nation's overall development strategy and adhered to exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes, the white paper said.
Over the past few years, China has ranked among the world's leading countries in certain major areas of space technology, it said, adding that in the next five years, there will be new opportunities to the country's space industry.
At the same time, China will work together with the international community to maintain a peaceful and clean outer space and endeavor to promote world peace and development, the document said.
FUTURE MISSIONS
Major tasks listed in the white paper for the next five years include space transportation system, Earth satellites, human spaceflights and deep-space exploration.
The country will launch the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spaceships and achieve unmanned or manned rendezvous and docking with the in-orbit Tiangong-1 vehicle, the paper said.
China also plans to launch space laboratories, manned spaceship and space freighters, and will start a research on the preliminary plan for a human landing on the moon, the document said.
As an important part of deep-space exploration, the country's lunar probe projects follow the idea of "three steps" -- orbiting, landing and returning.
In next five years, the country plans to launch orbiters for lunar soft landing, roving and surveying to implement the second stage of lunar exploration, then it will start the third-stage project of sampling the moon's surface matters and get those samples back to Earth, the white paper said.
In addition, China will build a space infrastructure frame composed of Earth observation satellites, communications and broadcasting satellites, plus navigation and positioning satellites.
MAJOR PROGRESS
According to the white paper, breakthroughs have been made in major space projects, including human spaceflight and lunar exploration, since 2006.
From Sept. 25 to 28, 2008, China successfully launched the Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship and became the third country in the world to master the key technology of astronaut space extravehicular activity.
In November 2011, China accomplished the first unmanned space rendezvous and docking test between the Tiangong-1 space lab module and Shenzhou-8 spaceship.
In addition, the country's lunar probe projects have achieved milestone breakthroughs over the past five years. China successfully launched two lunar probes, the Chang'e-1 on Oct. 24, 2007, and Chang'e-2 on Oct. 1, 2010.
The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon while the second created a full higher-resolution map of the moon and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridium.
Editor: Liu
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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China to launch orbiters for lunar soft landing in next five years: white paper
2011-12-29 11:12:49
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will launch orbiters for lunar soft landing, roving and surveying to implement the second stage of lunar exploration in next five years, a white paper said Thursday.
China's lunar probe projects are based on the idea of "three steps" -- orbiting, landing and returning, said the white paper "China's Space Activities in 2011" issued by the State Council Information Office.
In the third stage, China will start to sample the moon's surface matters and get those samples back to Earth, the paper said.
The country's lunar probe projects have achieved milestone breakthroughs since 2006, with the successful launching of two lunar probes, the Chang'e-1 on Oct. 24, 2007, and Chang'e-2 on Oct. 1, 2010.
The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon while the second one created a full higher-resolution map of the moon and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridium.
By the implementation of lunar exploration projects, China will make in-situ analyses, morphological and structural surveys of the lunar surface in landing and roving areas, conduct environmental surveys of the lunar surface and make moon-based astronomical observations.
China will also push forward its exploration of planets, asteroids and the sun of the solar system, according to the white paper.
By using spacecraft, China will study the properties of black holes and physical laws under extreme conditions, explore properties of dark matter particles, and test basic theories of quantum mechanics.
It will also conduct scientific experiments on microgravity and space life science, explore and forecast the space environment and study their effects.
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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China to push forward human spaceflight projects in next five years: white paper
2011-12-29 11:12:37
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will push forward human spaceflight projects and make new technological breakthroughs, creating a foundation for future human spaceflight, according to a white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2011" issued Thursday.
During the next five years, China will launch the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spaceships and achieve unmanned or manned rendezvous and docking with the in-orbit Tiangong-1 vehicle, said the white paper released by the Information Office of the State Council.
In addition, China will launch space laboratories, manned spaceship and space freighters, make breakthroughs in and master space station key technologies, including astronauts' medium-term stay, regenerative life support and propellant refueling. It will conduct studies on the preliminary plan for a human lunar landing.
According to the white paper, China will build a stronger space transportation system, keep improving its launch vehicle series, and enhance their capabilities of entering space.
It will enhance the reliability and adaptability of launch vehicles in service, develop new-generation launch vehicles and their upper stages, and implement the first flight of the Long March-5, Long March-6 and Long March-7 launch vehicles.
The paper said China will build a space infrastructure frame composed of Earth observation satellites, communications and broadcasting satellites, plus navigation and positioning satellites, and will develop a preliminary long-term, sustained and stable service capability.
It aims at developing and launching new-generation GEO meteorological satellites, stereo mapping satellites, radar satellites for environment and disaster monitoring, electromagnetic monitoring test satellites, and other new-type Earth observation satellites.
It will make breakthroughs in key technologies for interferometric synthetic-aperture radar and gravitational field measurement satellites, initiate a high-resolution Earth observation system and establish a stable all-weather, 24-hour, multi-spectral, various-resolution Earth observation system.
China carries out deep-space exploration in stages, with limited goals.It will launch orbiters for lunar soft landing, roving and surveying to implement the second stage of lunar exploration.
According to the paper, China will further improve its satellite application and service system, expand satellites application scope, and promote the national new strategic industries, to meet demands of national economic and social development.
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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China to develop new-generation launch vehicles: white paper
2011-12-29 10:44:08
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will develop new-generation launch vehicles, such as Long March-5, Long March-6 and Long March-7, in the next five years, a governmental white paper said Thursday.
The Long March-5 will use non-toxic and pollution-free propellant, and will be capable of placing 25 tonnes of payload into the near-Earth orbit, or placing 14 tonnes of pay-load into the GEO orbit, said the white paper "China's Space Activities in 2011" released by the State Council Information Office.
The Long March-6 will be a new type of high-speed response launch vehicle, which will be capable of placing not less than 1 tonne of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit at a height of 700 km.
The Long March-7 will be capable of placing 5.5 tonnes of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit at a height of 700 km, according to the white paper.
The country will also conduct special demonstrations and pre-research on key technologies for heavy-lift launch vehicles, the document said.
Since 2006, Long March rockets have accomplished 67 successful launches, sending 79 spacecraft into planned orbits and demonstrating noteworthy improvement in the reliability of China's launch vehicles.
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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China to tighten monitoring on space debris: white paper
2011-12-29 10:45:34
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will begin monitoring space debris and small near-Earth celestial bodies and collision pre-warning work in the next five years, according to a white paper published Thursday.
China will continue to strengthen its work on space debris monitoring and mitigation and its work on spacecraft protection, said the white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2011" issued by the State Council Information Office.
It will set up a design and assess system of space debris mitigation, and take measures to reduce space debris left by post-task spacecraft and launch vehicles, the white paper says.
It will also experiment with digital simulation of space debris collisions, and build a system to protect spacecraft from space debris.
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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China makes rapid progress, breakthroughs in space industry: white paper
2011-12-29 12:06:09
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A white paper published on Thursday said that China has made innovative achievements and breakthroughs in major space projects, and space technology has been upgraded remarkably.
The white paper, China's Space Activities in 2011, published by the State Council's Information Office, said that the country's Long March rockets have accomplished 67 successful launches, sending 79 spacecraft into planned orbits since 2006.
The Long March rocket series have been improved, and major progress has been made in the development of new-generation launch vehicles, the white paper said.
So far, China has developed Fengyun (wind and cloud), Haiyang (ocean), Ziyuan (resources), Yaogan (remote-sensing) and Tianhui (space mapping) satellite series, plus a constellation of small satellites for environmental and disaster monitoring and forecasting.
Fengyun satellites are now capable of global, three-dimensional and multispectral quantitative observation, and the first Haiyang dynamics environmental satellite launched in August, 2011 is capable of all-weather and full-time microwave observation, it said.
China has won successes in its high-capacity geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite communications platform, space-based data relays, tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C), and other key technologies, showing remarkable improvement in the technical performance of China's satellites and in voice, data, radio and television communications.
The paper said China has comprehensively launched the building of a Beidou regional navigation system, consisting of five GEO satellites, five inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites and four medium-Earth-orbit (MEO) satellites.
Since April 2007, China has launched 10 such satellites and has been able to provide trial services for Asia-Pacific users, it said.
After successfully launching the Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship in 2008, China became the third country in the world to master the key technology of astronaut space extravehicular activity, the white paper said.
In September and November 2011, China successively launched the Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 spaceship, and accomplished their first space rendezvous and docking test, laying the foundation for the construction of future space laboratories and space stations, it said.
In deep-space exploration, China successfully launched its first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, in 2007, retrieving a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon, and successfully implementing a controlled crash onto the lunar surface.
The paper said the success of Chang'e-1 was another milestone for China's space industry, after man-made satellites and human spaceflight, signifying that China has become one of the countries capable of deep-space exploration.
China successfully launched its second lunar probe, Chang'e-2, in October 2010, and created a full higher-resolution map of the moon, and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridium, and completed several extended tests, including circling the Lagrangian Point L2, which laid the foundation for future deep-space exploration tasks, it said.
The white paper said China has improved its three existing launch sites in Jiuquan, Xichang and Taiyuan, enhancing their comprehensive test capabilities and high-intensity launching capabilities. China is building a new space launch site in Hainan to accommodate the launch of new-generation launch vehicles.
China has improved its TT&C ground stations and ships, and has established a very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) network comprising four observation stations and a data processing center, indicating that China has acquired space-based TT&C capabilities.
At present, China's TT&C network is expanding from the ground to space, and from geospace TT&C to deep-space TT&C. The network is able to not only satisfy satellite TT&C demands, but also support human spaceflight and deep-space exploration, it said.
The white paper revealed that using the Shijian satellites and Shenzhou spaceship, China has carried out space experiments in life science, materials science, fluid mechanics and other fields under conditions of microgravity and strong radiation. It has also conducted experiments on crop breeding in space.
China has monitored space debris, and given early warnings against them, ensuring safe flight of Chang'e-1 and Chang'e-2 lunar probes, and Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship.
China has steadily pushed forward its work on space debris mitigation, fully inactivating Long March rockets, and moving a few aging GEO satellites out of orbit, the white paper said.
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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China sticks to peaceful use of outer space: spokesman
2011-12-29 13:28:49
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China adheres to a principle of peaceful development in its space missions and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, a spokesman for the China National Space Administration said Thursday.
Spokesman Zhang Wei made the remarks while answering a question at a press conference held in Beijing for the release of the white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2011."
By clearly listing "peaceful development" as a key principle that governs China's space missions, the paper demonstrates the nation's resolution in carrying out space activities in a peaceful way, Zhang said.
"It has been a common aspiration for the whole of mankind to explore, develop and utilize space for peaceful purposes," he noted.
The white paper says that China always adheres to the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and opposes the weaponization of, or an arms race in, outer space.
"China develops and utilizes space resources in a prudent manner and takes effective measures to protect the space environment, ensuring that its space activities benefit the whole of mankind," the paper reads.
This is China's third such document detailing the progress of the country's space missions, following two previous white papers released in 2000 and 2006, respectively.
Editor: Lu Hui
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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China to launch Shenzhou-9, Shenzhou-10 spacecraft next year: spokesman
2011-12-29 16:38:18
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will launch the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spacecraft and achieve space rendezvous and docking missions with the orbiting Tiangong-1 vehicle in 2012, a spokesman for the China National Space Administration said Thursday.
Spokesman Zhang Wei made the announcement at a press conference held in Beijing for the release of a white paper titled "China's Space Activities in 2011."
However, the spokesman did not unveil a detailed timetable for the launches.
China on Thursday issued the white paper on the development of the space industry since 2006 and the major tasks for the next five years.
The white paper was the third white paper on the country's space activities issued by the State Council Information Office, following one in 2000 and another in 2006.
The Chinese government has made the space industry an important part of the nation's overall development strategy and adhered to the exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes, the white paper said.
Over the past few years, China has ranked among the world's leading countries in certain major areas of space technology, it said, adding that in the next five years, there will be new opportunities for the country's space industry.
At the same time, China will work together with the international community to maintain a peaceful and clean outer space environment and endeavor to promote world peace and development, the document said.
FUTURE MISSIONS
Major tasks listed in the white paper for the next five years include a space transportation system, Earth satellites, human spaceflights and deep-space exploration.
The country will launch Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 and achieve unmanned or manned rendezvous and docking with the currently orbiting Tiangong-1 vehicle, the paper said.
China also plans to launch space laboratories, a manned spaceship and space freighters, and will start research on the preliminary plan for a human landing on the moon, the document said.
As an important part of deep-space exploration, the country's lunar probe projects follow the idea of "three steps" -- orbiting, landing and returning.
In next five years, the country plans to launch orbiters for lunar soft landing, roving and surveying to implement the second stage of lunar exploration, then it will start the third-stage project of gathering samples of the moon's surface matter and getting those samples back to Earth, the white paper said.
China will also build a space infrastructure frame composed of Earth observation satellites, communications and broadcasting satellites, as well as navigation and positioning satellites.
According to Spokesman Zhang Wei, China will also conduct special project demonstrations in other deep-space projects, including an exploration of Mars.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
China has signed 66 international space cooperation agreements with 22 states and regions, and 44 of them currently remain in effect, Zhang said at the press conference.
Openness has always been a key principle of China's space program, he said.
The country has engaged in 12 bilateral cooperation mechanisms within intergovernmental frameworks, Zhang said, adding that China has exported communications satellites to Nigeria, Venezuela and Pakistan, and has also contracted with countries, including Bolivia, Belarus, Indonesia and Laos, to export satellites.
China is willing to provide space products and services to more countries and regions, especially developing countries, on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful utilization.
Moreover, Zhang stressed that China adheres to a principle of peaceful development in its space missions and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
By clearly listing "peaceful development" as a key principle that governs China's space missions, Thursday's white paper demonstrates the nation's resolve in carrying out space activities in a peaceful way, Zhang said.
"It has been a common aspiration for the whole of mankind to explore, develop and utilize space for peaceful purposes," he noted.
The white paper says that China always adheres to the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and opposes the weaponization of, or an arms race in, outer space.
"China develops and utilizes space resources in a prudent manner and takes effective measures to protect the space environment, ensuring that its space activities benefit the whole of mankind," the paper reads.
Moreover, Zhang said that Chinese scientists are keeping in close contact with their Russian peers on the situation of the Yinghuo-1 Mars orbiter.
The orbiter was launched along with Russia's Phobos-Grunt (Phobos-Soil) spacecraft last month, but the spacecraft failed to complete the orbital transfer scheduled to take it on the path to Mars.
Russian scientists have been making unremitting efforts to try to save the Chinese orbiter, Zhang said.
MAJOR PROGRESS
According to the white paper, breakthroughs have been made in major space projects, including human spaceflight and lunar exploration, since 2006.
From Sept. 25 to 28, 2008, China successfully launched the Shenzhou-7 manned spacecraft and became the third country in the world to master the key technology of astronaut space extravehicular activity.
In November 2011, China accomplished the first unmanned space rendezvous and docking test between the Tiangong-1 space lab module and Shenzhou-8 spaceship.
Moreover, the country's lunar probe projects have achieved milestone breakthroughs over the past five years. China successfully launched two lunar probes, the Chang'e-1 on Oct. 24, 2007, and Chang'e-2 on Oct. 1, 2010.
The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon while the second created a full higher-resolution map of the moon and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridium
Editor: An
© 2011 Xinhua. All rights reserved.
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