Innovation is the way to achieve something out of this world
China's space program has benefited from the reform and opening-up and has presented one vast scene of exuberance over the past three decades. Major technical innovations and breakthroughs were made during the period. In the early 1980s, the country averaged less than one satellite launch a year. But in 2010 alone, 15 launch vehicles blasted off, sending 20 satellites into orbit - and the number is expected to grow this year. China has also exported communications satellites and provided in-orbit delivery services in the international commercial launch service market.
The growth is not just in numbers, but also in its capability. In the 1980s, China was able to launch only experimental satellites. Nowadays, seven series of satellites have been developed to serve various purposes from communications to Earth observation, and from navigation and positioning to scientific and technical experiments. Now, more than 30 satellites of various functions are working in space. China's launch vehicles have also improved in capacity and reliability, and can now send satellites into any required orbit.
In the past few years, Chinese astronauts also carried out extravehicular activities in space, and China's lunar probe circled the moon and ended its mission in a planned crash into the moon. They made China move one step closer to its goal of building a manned space station and exploring deep space.
China's space program has always been exploring a path in accordance with the country's conditions. In the 1980s, the strategy to develop application satellites was adopted to serve the country's economic development. In the 1990s, the old management system, established during the time of the planned economy, was reformed to better suit the market-oriented economy.
Now in the new millennium, innovation is the theme. We are confident that China's space program will achieve more along the path of independent innovation.
Wang Liheng is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and senior technical consultant for China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
(China Daily 06/01/2011 page17)
