As the fifth country to develop and launch an independent
man-made satellite, the third to master satellite recovery
technology, China is in the world's front ranks in many important
technological fields, including satellite recovery, the carrying of
multiple satellites on one rocket, rocket technology, and the
launch, test and control of static-orbit satellites. Great
achievements have been made in remote-sensing satellites,
communications satellites, and in manned space
experiments.?
-- Manned spacecraft. October 15, 2003 saw the successful launch of
the first manned spacecraft "Shenzhou V", developed independently
by China, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and following
four unmanned launches between November 1999 and December 2002.
"Shenzhou V" sent China's first astronaut into space and returned
successfully, making China the world's third country to
independently develop and deploy manned space flight technology. "
Shengzhou VI", carrying two astronauts, successfully accomplished
its space flight on October 12-17, 2005.
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-- Man-made earth satellites. From the launch of its first man-made
earth satellite "Dongfanghong No. 1" in April 1970 to the end of
2000, China successfully launched 75 satellites, including 48
developed by China itself and 27 commercial satellites for foreign
customers. Fifteen types of satellite have been launched in the
10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005), including communications,
navigation, meteorological, resource remote-sensing, and space
survey satellites, representing half of all satellites launched in
the past 30 years.
-- Carrier rockets. China has developed 12 models of the "Long
March" carrier rocket series, and is able to launch low earth
orbit, geostationary orbit, and sun-synchronous orbit satellites
and spaceships.? The successful launch rate is over 90
percent; between October 1996 and December 2004, "Long March"
rockets made 83 launches. China's next step is to develop a new
carrier rocket series. The Jiuquan, Xichang and Taiyuan
satellite-launch centers are internationally recognized.?