China is developing a heavy carrier rocket able to launch a 150-ton spacecraft: CNSA deputy head

China is developing a heavy carrier rocket that can launch spacecrafts as heavy as 150 tons, the same as the Tiangong space station, Wu Yanhua, deputy head of China's National Space Administration (CNSA), told China Central Television on Monday.

The rocket is also able to launch spacecrafts of 30 tons, four times the weight of the Chang'e-5 probe, to the Moon, Wu said, noting that this rocket would be used in China's major aerospace exploration missions for a long time.

Currently, researchers are further developing the design and working on the key technologies, according to Wu.

Besides the carrier rocket, Wu revealed that China is also working on a new generation of manned rockets based on the Long March-5 design. Two roller boosters will be added to the Long March-5 and the propellant will be non-poisonous and non-pollutant liquid oxygen and hydrogen as well as liquid oxygen and kerosene.

In the future, reusable rockets will also be added to the Long March series. Wu predicted that it is possible for China's commercial reusable rockets to make a maiden flight by 2025.