China will launch more than 50 small satellites, each weighing
less than 1,000 kilograms, in next five to ten years, a Chinese
space company announced here at a major air show in Guangdong
province.
"The 50 small satellites and their systems will be widely
applied in observation, scientific experiments and environment and
disaster monitoring," said a source with the China Aerospace
Science and Industry Corp. (CASIC), adding 200 to 300 small
satellites would be launched globally in next five to ten
years.
The CASIC, the country's leading space company, was introducing
its latest technologies, including the three small satellites for
the "Kua Fu Mission" to probe the Sun-Earth environment.
China has launched several high-performance small satellites,
such as the HY-1A ocean monitoring satellite, since 2001.
China had world-leading technologies in building small
satellites, said the CASIC spokesperson, who also revealed that
China was actively researching a new type of small carrier rocket
to meet the increasing satellite demand and will conduct the first
launch around 2010.
The CASIC, officially established in 1999 as the main contractor
for the Chinese space program, has more than 180 subsidiary
enterprises and institutions nationwide, employing almost 100,000
people.
(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2006)