China-US space race heats up as Chinese firm plans over 40 launches this year

Name: How China’s space programme went from launching satellites to building its own space station
Uploaded: 2022-01-05T05:31:52.000Z
Duration: 5 min 6 s
Description: How China’s space programme went from launching satellites to building its own space station

CASC forecasts an arduous year ahead to ‘accelerate the development of China as a space power’

China’s aims this year include finishing the Tiangong space station and signing a five-year agreement on space cooperation with Russia

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China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation says it plans more than 40 space launches this year. Photo: STR/FP

Teddy Ng

Published: 1:31pm, 5 Jan 2022Updated: 3:58pm, 5 Jan 2022

China’s main space contractor plans more than 40 launches this year, consolidating the country’s presence on a front that is becoming a source of rivalry with the United States.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said on its social media account that it had arranged more than 40 space launches for 2022, and for six manned space missions, including with two Shenzhou spacecraft. China’s Tiangong space station is expected to be completed this year.

The group will launch the first Long March 6A carrier rocket, featuring a liquid core with solid boosters.

The mission for 2022 would be “very arduous” and the number of space launches continued to remain high, the company said.

“We need to fully complete various aerospace tasks, ensure the complete success of major flight test missions and accelerate the development of China as a space power,” CASC chairman Wu Yansheng was quoted as saying.

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How China’s space programme went from launching satellites to building its own space station

Other Chinese space companies revealed their plans for 2022. LandSpace plans to launch a new rocket, Zhuque-2, which has a payload capability of 4,000kg (8,800 pounds), to low Earth orbit, and i-Space will conduct the first launch of its Shian Quxian-2 rocket.