China aims for manned space flights by 2010

An "integrated ground-space network" for space exploration and manned space research, including space stations, will follow within 20 years or so, the State Council Information Office said in a government report.

China plans to adhere to the principle of peaceful use of space technology and to promote international cooperation through the programme, the report said.

It aims "to explore outer space" and the Earth, and "to meet the growing demands of economic construction, national security, science and technology development and social progress".

China succeeded in launching and recovering China's first experimental unmanned spacecraft, the Shenzhou, in November 1999 and would become the third country after the U.S. and Russia to send a man into orbit.

Astronauts have begun training for the manned space flight programme, which began in 1992. Full commercialisation of the space programme will accelerate development of broadcast, navigation and other satellites, with China aiming to add to the 27 foreign satellites among the 47 launched so far, the report said.

The satellite programme was boosted on Wednesday when the U.S. agreed to reconsider granting licenses for U.S. firms to launch satellites in China, in response to China's pledge to halt exports of missile technology.

The first Chinese-built navigation satellite placed in orbit, the Beidou, would begin a new generation navigation system, state media said when China launched the Beidou on October 31.

A Long March-3A rocket launched the satellite, marking the 63rd launch of a Long March rockets and the 21st consecutive successful launch since October 1996.

(la/dpa)