With the third "ZY-2" research satellite successfully entering orbit on the morning of November 6, Cina has continuously accomplished its 40th satellites launching tasks since Oct. 1996, marking its space technology standing firmly on top world level.

Since Oct. 1996, China has generally upgraded its space technology and had sent 45 satellites, five "Shenzhou" spaceships into space in 40 times.

China's Long-March carrier rockets have conducted 82 launches since April 24,1970, and more than 90 percent have been successful. So far, the 12 types of Long-March carrier rockets can satisfy the needs for satellites on various orbits and spacecraft.

China's space technology also started its industrialization course. Among 40 launches in the past eight years, China has sent applications satellites used for telecommunications, meteorological research, marine inspection, navigation, earth resources and scientific experiments, all of which are self-developed.

The three launch centers, Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu province, Taiyuan in north China's Shanxi Province and Xichang in southwestern Sichuan province, can send spacecrafts onto various orbits and the time of sending cycle have been shortened evidently in the past few years.

Last October, China became only the third nation to successfully send a man into space.

And at the beginning of 2004, China claimed to launch 10 satellites within the year while preparing for its second manned space flight.

Source: Xinhua