Launch history of manned missions to space by Long March-2F carrier rockets. Graphic:GT

With 274 space launches over the past decade and great advancement in various space sectors, China has become a strong space power, Wu Yansheng, a delegate to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who is the Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said on Saturday. He added that for the next step, China will give emphasis on manned moon explorations and Mars sample retrieval missions among others.

"Entering the New Era, China has seen major historic achievements in aerospace. Take rocket launches as an example. Over the past 10 years, China has completed 274 space launches, 192 of which are in the nearest five years. Achievements like this have allowed China to take strides into the list of world's strong space powers," Wu said after the week-long 20th CPC National Congress concluded on Saturday in Beijing.

Wu noted that China will complete the construction of the country's first space station within this year. The Mengtian lab module, the final section of the basic structure of the Station, has completed its planned propellant fueling and is prepared to be docked to the station by the end of October.

Following Mengtian's launch, the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-15 manned spacecraft are expected during the Shenzhou-14 crew's six-month stay in orbit, by which time it will see the simultaneous stay of six taikonauts in orbit, as the Shenzhou-14 and -15 members are expected to conduct their rotation in orbit for about a week, another breakthrough in China's manned spaceflight history.

For the next step, Wu noted that the country will focus on a number of key tasks. First is to further improve the ability to enter space. "How strong is our capacity of the launch vehicles, how big is the stage for future space development," he said, noting that China will update the existing launch vehicles, develop new-generation manned launch vehicles and heavy-lift carrier rockets.

Major space projects will continue to be carried out, including manned moon explorations, the construction of the International Lunar Research Station, Mars sample retrieval missions, and asteroid explorations.

Global Times

Graphics: Liu Xidan, Chen He, Tang Tengfei, Xia Qing/GT