'Long March V' carrier rocket to blast off in 2014

The reporters learned from the ongoing 9th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition that China's new-generation "Long March V" carrier rocket has entered the large-scale ground verification stage and is expected to blast off in 2014 for the first time.

"The carrying capability of the rocket determines the arena size of the aerospace activities," said Hao Zhaoping, deputy director of the China Academy of Carrier Rocket Technology. The carrier rocket's support is the first step for all aerospace activities,and China's aerospace activities such as the manned aerospace project, the future space-station construction and the third-phase lunar exploration project depend on the "Long March V" carrier rocket, he added.

The "Long March V" carrier rocket model debuted at the 9th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition is quite eye-catching. "If the 'Long March V' carrier rocket is put into use, the loading capacity of China's rocket at lower orbit will reach 25 tons from previous 8 tons, and China's capability to send spacecraft into orbit will reach a very high level in a period of time, probably the highest level in the world," said Hao Zhaoping. This not only embodies the accumulation of China's aerospace technology development in the past several decades, but also complies with China's long-term development requirements for its aerospace cause, Hao added.