Rocket takes China closer to space station

Launch is the first staged at Hainan's Wenchang facility

The introduction of the new Long March 7 carrier rocket takes China closer to its goal of building a manned space station, according to the nation's top rocket designers.

Zhang Tao, deputy director of the Long March 7 project at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said the rocket will be used to transport cargo and manned craft to China's proposed space station.