China's space authorities have announced plans to launch
over 40 different spacecrafts into orbit in 20 separate launches this year.
One of the vessels to be launched is the ground-breaking Yuanzheng 1 - also
known as the 'space bus' - which can launch 10 different satellites at once.
2013 was a massive year for China whose scientists launched 16 spacecraft to
firmly establish their cosmic credentials.
In October 2003, it became only the third country in history to independently
launch a manned mission into space on the Shenzhou 5.
A spokesman for the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said the
vessels going up this year will mostly be 'communication satellites' orbiting
at around 36,000ft.
Director of its Space Department Zhao Xiaojin added: 'There will also be some
remote sensing satellites sent up to observe the earth as well as navigation
satellites.'
Chinese space authorities also said a number of 'cutting edge' technologies
will be tested for the first time, including the highly anticipated 'space
bus'.
The Yuanzheng 1 is China's largest ever rocket with a diameter of 5.2 meters.
It needs to be assembled at the launch site because trains carrying it would
not be able to pass through tunnels.
Its engine can restart over 20 times when flying in orbit and it is thought to
be 75 per cent more efficient than spacecraft of the same size.
It also has the capability to move old, scrapped satellites out of useful orbit
and into so-called 'cemetery orbits' to prevent them from hindering other
space-faring vehicles.
In December 2013, the Chang'e 3 lander - named after the Chinese moon goddess -
became the first object to soft-land on the moon since the Soviet Union's Luna
24 in 1976.
China's National Space Administration operated the mission which incorporated a
robotic lander and the country's first ever lunar rover.
The county announced its aspiration to carry out deep space exploration in
September 2010 and planned to send a man to the moon by 2025.
Mr Xiaojin says work is also continuing to extend China's lunar program,
adding: 'We have made breakthroughs in most of the key technology needed for
the Chang'e-5 mission [which is expected to land on the Moon by 2017].
'This year we will conduct more ground tests, particularly ones involving
theconditions which will imitate the environment on the moon.'
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has already begun opening up its its lunar
exploration program to private investment.
