Nine satellites, including one that will carry nothing but
seeds, are set to be launched into space this year.
Zhang Qingwei, president of the China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corp, said the first, a scientific experimental
satellite, will be launched at the end of April.
He revealed the plans to China Daily while he was
attending the annual meeting of the National
People's Congress, which opened yesterday in Beijing.
For the first time, the country will send into orbit a "seed
satellite" specially designed for germinating seeds in space, he
said. That launch is scheduled for September.
The recoverable satellite will enable scientists to try to
cultivate high-yield and high-quality plant varieties after
exposing the seeds to special environments such as cosmic radiation
and micro-gravity, according to sources with the Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences.
Zhang said another important satellite to be put into space in
2006 is SinoSat 2, the country's first direct broadcasting
satellite, which is expected to beam TV programs to even the most
remote rural regions in the country.
Zhang said SinoSat 2 will be based on the country's newest
generation satellite platform, Dongfanghong 4, which has a designed
life mission of 15 years.
Other satellites in the pipeline include a meteorological
satellite and oceanic satellite that will monitor ocean color and
red tides, he said.
China has launched more than 70 satellites since the 1970s.
Nearly 20 are still in service, Qi Faren, designer-in-chief of the
country's manned spacecraft, said yesterday.
The country's economic blueprint, submitted by Premier Wen
Jiabao for deliberation by legislators yesterday, calls for the
space industry to make a shift from "experimental application" to
business services in the coming years.
(China Daily March 6, 2006)