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November 29, 2010

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New moon launch site

CHINA is considering launching rockets in the next phase of China's lunar exploration program from a satellite launch site currently being upgraded in southern China's Hainan Island, reported the Beijing Times yesterday.

Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of the lunar exploration program, told the newspaper that the site is being considered because the rockets required for future missions will be too large to be transported on land.

"No rocket more than 3.5 meters in diameter can be transported by trains or other vehicles," said Ouyang. "They can only be carried by ships."

Ouyang said China is developing a heavy lift Long March 5 booster, a new model of rocket capable of landing heavy facilities on the moon. But he did not mention possible timing of the launches.

Authorities previously predicted that the first launch of this model of rocket would occur in 2014, one year after the intended opening of the upgraded launch site on Hainan Province.

Further projects to land Chinese astronauts on the moon could also be launched at the site, Ouyang said.


 

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