Chinese scientists have already started a series of demonstration for the carrier rocket series and the storm at the key technologies, said Long Lehao, Director of the Sci-tech Commission with the China Research Institute for Carrier-rocket Technology and Chief commander of Long-march 3a series when he was having a special interview with the reporter. The two types of engines required for the research and development of the project have been approved by the state for filing.

"We have mastered by and large the key technologies in the research and development of the new generation carrier rockets," said the hoary-hair academician of the CAS of over 60 years old. "If the state makes the project filed for the new generation of carrier-rocket series next year it is possible to score a success in its research and development within a span of five to six years and be brought into the launching market in 2010 at the latest."

He said, the new generation of carrier-rocket in the shaping consists of 14 types. The main feature of them: the carrying capacity on a low-orbit is of 1.2 to 25 tons while that on a higher orbit being 1.8 to 14 tons. By making full use of the technologies of the Long-march serial rockets it is better linked up with the future for repeatedly usable carriers and by adopting the non-toxic, non-pollution kerosene and liquefied hydrogen and oxygen propellant.

Long Lehao said, to research and develop the new generation of Long-march carrier rocket is conducive to diminishing the differences between China and developed countries in the carrier-rocket technology, further strengthening the competitiveness of China's carrier-rocket in the international launching market for commercial purposes. And in the meanwhile it is to meet the domestic needs, promote the development of China's space technology, thereby scoring a great significance in raising the capability for space exploration.

The White Paper on China's Spaceflight published by the Chinese government in 2000 had basically defined the objective for lunar exploration. "If China wants to send its spacemen onto the moon and take them back, the carrying capability of the present carrier-rocket falls short of fulfilling the job and now what we can do is only to do the unmanned probing," said Academician Long.

He said that Europe, Japan and the US would have a batch of new carrier-rockets to be put into the market in the coming 10 years. They are featured with large-diameter, huge propelling power, high reliability, and non-pollution and of easy operation. China's carrier-rocket has to follow the trend by eliminating those of using toxic and polluting chemical propellants while adopting the non-toxic, non-pollution kerosene and liquefied hydrogen and oxygen propellants. And in this way it is to strengthen the carrying capacity and reliability of the carrier-rockets and maintaining and enhancing China's status as a big country in the field of spaceflight.

He also suggests that a new launching ground is going to be put up in Hainan Province for the launching of the new generation of carrier-rockets. "The present launching grounds at Jiuquan, Xichang and Taiyuan are all built in the inland areas, revealing such short-comings as falling short of the safety for flying areas, and the failure of restriction by railway transportation of large-sized carrier-rockets and the loss of carrying capability due to the geographical location of the launching grounds in the high altitude zones."

He said that the rocket launching ground in Hainan Province is nearby the sea and it's easy to select the landing point for the rocket and the safety for the rocket flying area can thoroughly be solved. Besides, it is easy for international exchanges and cooperation and conducive to the establishment and development of commercialized pattern in the operation of launching services and it is also possible to solve the difficulty in which the rail transportation for large-diameter rockets is to be replaced by ocean shipping.

(People’s Daily April 7, 2003)