bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

China will develop rockets that can be launched into space from aircraft, a senior official told the state-run China Daily newspaper, as Beijing aims to send hundreds of satellites into orbit for military, commercial and scientific aims.
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has designed a solid-fuel rocket that could carry a 100kg payload into low Earth orbit, said Li Tongyu, the head of the agency’s carrier rocket development.
China plans to launch first cargo spacecraft in April
President Xi Jinping has prioritised advancing China’s space programme, saying it was needed to enhance national security and defence, although its progress still lags behind the United States and Russia.

Li said the rockets would be carried by large Y-20 strategic transport planes before launch and that the academy planned to eventually develop a larger rocket that could carry a 200kg payload.
“The jet will hold a rocket within its fuselage and release it at a certain altitude. The rocket will be ignited after it leaves the plane,” Li said.
Touchdown for Chinese astronauts after record space mission
Rockets launched from aircraft are an alternative to more traditional ground launched rockets. They have the benefits of quick and precise launch, without scheduling issues and weather-related delays.

Chinese state media said last month China planned to launch its first cargo spacecraft in April, taking a step towards its goal of establishing a permanently manned space station by 2022.
The United States has previously highlighted China’s increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed at preventing other nations using space-based assets in a crisis.


China trials unmanned trucks on world’s highest mine, 5,600 metres from sea level

Chinese desalination plant makes fresh water cheaper than tap water – plus green hydrogen

With one small step for AI, Chinese scientists make giant leap for humanity

First ‘home cat’ reached China 1,400 years ago via Tang dynasty Silk Road

Science

China to develop space rockets to launch from planes

The launch of a manned Chinese space mission on a Long March carrier rocket in October last year. Photo: Xinhua

(161106) -- BEIJING, Nov. 6, 2016 (Xinhua) -- China's newly-developed heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-5 is in transit at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 28, 2016. China on Thursday launched the Long March-5 at 8:43 p.m. Beijing Time from the Wenchang Space Launch Center. (Xinhua/Sun Hao)

China's Mystery Space Plane Shen Long is seen being carried under a Chinese bomber in 2007. SCMP Pictures (UNDATED HANDOUT)

News

China

Diplomacy

Move comes as Beijing aims to send hundreds of military, commercial and scientific satellites into orbit
