China has conducted the first flight of its new generation Long March 7 rocket from a new satellite launch centre in Wenchang, Hainan.
Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) under China Aerospace Science and Technology (CASC), the Long March 7 has launched payloads that include a scale-version of a new re-entry capsule for human space missions.
The capsule has been developed as part of a programme that aims to build two next-generation multipurpose manned spacecraft capable of departing beyond low Earth orbit, as well as offer capabilities for lunar missions, near Earth asteroids and potential Mars mission, reported gbtimes.
China’s space programme main contractor CASC stated that few hours after the launch, the payload had separated from the carrier Long March 7 rocket.
A day after the launch, the re-entry capsule has been recovered from a landing area in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, keeping China on schedule to put its second space station into orbit later this year.
China’s manned space programme deputy director Wu Ping noted that data collected from the re-entry experiment would help with future research on developing a new generation of crewed spacecraft.
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By GlobalDataThe Long March-7 chief designer Ma Zhonghui was quoted by Xinhua as saying: "The more our rockets can lift, the farther we can venture into space.
"Long March-7’s maiden flight will greatly lift up China’s comprehensive space capacity, and give the country a hefty boost in building itself into a space power."
The Long March-7 is a medium-sized rocket that uses liquid propellant and can carry up to 13.5t to low-Earth orbit. It will transport cargo for China’s proposed space station and is expected to become the main carrier for space launches.
