China is going to develop spaceflight carrier for repeated use, said Zhang Qingwei, general manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and eventually to bring out the quick, mobile, cheep and credible SSTO (single-stage-to-orbit) vehicle, that can be used repeatedly when a breakthrough is scored in the key technology for SSTO carrier.
In the latest issue of China Space News Mr. Zhang discloses the information in his article. He says, China will carry out its research of space vehicles with new conception for the purpose of deep space exploration, interstellar manned flight and the establishment of space stations.
The general manager expresses that the launching of pint-sized carrier rockets increase year by year according to the international statistics of the launching of carrier vehicles. So, while researching the repeatedly-used vehicles, China will actively promote the research for small carrier rockets and try to establish its place in the new field as soon as possible.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is China's largest rocket research institution. The CZ series rockets, developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and Shanghai Academy of Space Technology (SAST) under CASC, have been launched over 70 times and the overall technology and performance have reached the first rate of the world.
(People’s Daily July 22, 2003)
