China space program has no direct military aim
Source: Xinhua |
November 19, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S space missions have not included any programs that directly serve defense purposes, a senior space program official said yesterday.
However, space-related technological developments can be used in both civilian and military sectors, Wang Zhaoyao, vice director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, said at a press conference.
"For example, a communication satellite can be used for TV broadcasting and military communications," he said.
In response to comments that China's space missions have lacked transparency, Wang said the country has made great efforts to introduce its missions to the outside world and will continue to cooperate with other countries under the principle of mutual respect, mutual benefit and transparency.
China completed its first-ever space docking mission on Thursday, after the successful landing of the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8, which docked twice with the space lab module Tiangong-1 during its 17-day mission.
Wang called this a major step toward a future space station and said China remained open to cooperation with other nations
But Wang added: "It's still too early to say China has mature space technology, and the success of one or two missions cannot change the international aerospace landscape that has been shaped for years."
Tiangong-1, which blasted off into space on September 29, will remain in orbit to await docking attempts by both Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spacecraft in 2012. At least one of these will take astronauts.
Wang said he and his colleagues were confident that Tiangong-1 would function until the end of its design life of two years.
"Monitoring data show that all the systems on Tiangong-1 are in perfect condition," he said.
However, space-related technological developments can be used in both civilian and military sectors, Wang Zhaoyao, vice director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, said at a press conference.
"For example, a communication satellite can be used for TV broadcasting and military communications," he said.
In response to comments that China's space missions have lacked transparency, Wang said the country has made great efforts to introduce its missions to the outside world and will continue to cooperate with other countries under the principle of mutual respect, mutual benefit and transparency.
China completed its first-ever space docking mission on Thursday, after the successful landing of the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8, which docked twice with the space lab module Tiangong-1 during its 17-day mission.
Wang called this a major step toward a future space station and said China remained open to cooperation with other nations
But Wang added: "It's still too early to say China has mature space technology, and the success of one or two missions cannot change the international aerospace landscape that has been shaped for years."
Tiangong-1, which blasted off into space on September 29, will remain in orbit to await docking attempts by both Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spacecraft in 2012. At least one of these will take astronauts.
Wang said he and his colleagues were confident that Tiangong-1 would function until the end of its design life of two years.
"Monitoring data show that all the systems on Tiangong-1 are in perfect condition," he said.
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