China launched Tiangong I on September 29, 2011 in Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center. Photo: Chinanews.com
China plans to put 30 satellites into Earth's orbit this year with 21 launches, after the country's space activities hit a record high last year, when 22 satellites were sent into space with 19 Long March rockets.
"A total of 100 satellites will be put into orbit through 100 launches by 2015. This year, China will launch 21 rockets and lift 30 satellites into space," the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced Thursday.
It highlighted achievements made by China's aerospace industry in 2011, including the successful docking experiment between the Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft and the Tiangong-1 space lab module, and the beginning of services by the GPS rival, Beidou Satellite Navigation system.
"The number of China's space launches in 2011 surpassed that of the US, which sent 18 satellites into orbit," Pang Zhihao, a researcher from the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, told the Global Times. "The number of US space launches will further decrease this year due to the retirement of the space shuttles."
"If the 12th Five-Year Plan can be strictly implemented, China will maintain its No. 2 position in the coming five years following Russia in terms of launching satellites," Pang said.
Russia topped the world in space missions last year with 36 launches.
Pang noted that Russia carried out a number of commercial launches, but the failure of four missions in 2011, including the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft that carried a Chinese probe to Mars, dealt a blow to the space giant's confidence.
"One of the key missions for Chinese launches this year is the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, which will also conduct docking tests with the Tiangong-1," Pang said, adding that the Shenzhou-9 could be a manned mission.
"Another major mission is the launching of six more satellites for the Beidou system, which will improve the system's regional navigation ability," Pang added.
In the annual work conference held on January 16, the CASC awarded 1 million yuan ($158,331) each to its nine outstanding engineers, who made great contributions to last year's projects, it announced Thursday.
The company, also a major supplier for strategic weapons, revealed that its missile section conducted several tests last year with a 100 percent success rate.
Since January, there have been online and Western media reports about China's new type of submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile, allegedly called the Julang-2 (giant wave).
Richard Fisher, a Chinese military affairs specialist with the International Assessment and Strategy Center, told the Washington Times that information collected from Chinese online military bulletin boards suggested China had test-fired six Julang-2 missiles from waters near Dalian, Liaoning Province.
Meanwhile, a fisherman in Changdao county, Shandong Province accidentally retrieved a 4-meter-long, 2-meter-wide cylinder object, which seems to be the "booster stage of a missile," the Jinan-based Qilu Evening News reported January 10.
While some Western defense observers claimed the wreckage is evidence of a recent Julang-2 launch, China's military and defense authorities have remained silent on the alleged missile tests.
On November 9, China successfully launched a Long March rocket carrying the Yaogan-12 remote sensing satellite.
The Xinhua News Agency said the satellite will be used to "conduct scientific experiments, carry out surveys on land resources, estimate crop yield and help with natural disaster reduction and prevention."
However, space.com, a major space and astronomy news website, said the satellite could collect intelligence for the PLA and that "all previous Yaogan satellites carried radar or optical sensors for reconnaissance missions."
An anonymous space technology expert declined to discuss whether China's Yaogan satellites are for military or civilian use, but told the Global Times that in other countries, similar satellites are also designed for both purposes.
Zhu Shanshan and agencies contributed to this story
