CRI听力:China Targets on Heavy Launch Vehicles

CALT's Liang Xiaohong says research on heavy launch vehicles is pushing toward project approval and the work of tackling key technology has started simultaneously.

Heavy launch vehicles refer to those capable of putting payloads up to 50 tons into orbit.

Currently, the US is the only country in the world, apart from China, to develop a research plan for heavy launch vehicles.

Military analyst Li Li shares her view about the reasons for China's efforts in this field.

"Each of the bay sections weighs up to 20 tons. Our current vehicles can carry 10 tons at most. As a result, we cannot accomplish the construction of the space station as planned."

Liang goes on to say that though China will have vehicles like the Long March 5 and 7 by 2015, it takes several rounds to finish the design of a 100-ton space station.

Vehicles able to carry up to 100 tons will better meet requirements in future.

Other functions of heavy launch vehicles include carrying humans to the moon, and space exploration. The US, relying on its Saturn V, is still the only country in the world that can make a manned moon trip.

Pang Zhihao, a researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology, says development of heavy launch vehicles will be a catalyst for further development in China's aeronautics industry, and for space exploration.

"Taking humans to the moon and other small planets is a fore step before making it to Mars. Heavy launch vehicles can offer adequate space for the facilities that make space exploration more safe. A country's power in aeronautics lies more in its level of space exploration than in its ability to make use of space.

For CRI, I'm Alexander Aucott.