China To Deploy New Generation Of Rockets For Space Missions

A newly-built medium-sized rocket in China is set to be deployed carrying with it heavy loads of up to 13.5 tonnes for space missions.

China’s Long March-7 rocket shipped to Hainan for maiden flight NEWS >> https://t.co/ceDm0Vhgoh #news #post #press pic.twitter.com/WR6U10XlS6

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With eight years of research and development under its belt, the new-generation Long March-7 rocket is said to be able to carry up to 13.5 tonnes of load to low Earth Orbit, as noted by director of the Carrier Rocket Technology Research Institute with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Li Hong.

"The Long March-7 launch scheduled for late June will be of great significance," said Yang Baohua, deputy manager of the company. "It will usher in China's space lab mission."

The Chinese space station is said to rival Russian Space station Mir, which is being operated jointly between Russia and the US, and is expected to launch by the year 2022. What makes the Long March-7 even better, according to NDTV.com, is that it is said to be more environmentally-friendly that the earlier models, with an environmentally-friendly, indigenously developed kerosene and liquid oxygen propellant.and may just become the main carrier for launches in the future.

This is not the only rocket on China's list, though. According to CCTV English, The Long March 5 is also scheduled for launch at the end of the year, with its 5-meter diameter that can hold over 2-and-a-half times greater loads than the rockets that are currently in service.

The Economic Times noted that Chin also plans on launching a second experimental space lab called the tiangong-2 in the fall, and is scheduled to dock with Shenzhou-11, a manned spacecraft by the fourth quarter of this year.