

China is set to establish a company that will specialize in commercial rocket launches, Hu Shengyun, chief model designer with the China Sanjiang Space Group, said on Tuesday.
Hu, also a NPC deputy, told Xinhua News Agency on March 15 that the company’s first commercial launch is planned for next year. Preparations have already begun, and some of China’s biggest Internet companies have expressed interest in a collaboration.
The company will use solid-fuel Kuaizhou rockets, which can send a 1-ton payload to an altitude of 700 kilometers. Prelaunch preparations take just a few hours. What’s more, the cost should be within US$10,000 per kilogram of payload, said Hu, recognizing the project for its “promising market prospects.”
China launched the first Kuaizhou rocket in 2013 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. That launch put an observation satellite into orbit around Earth. The second rocket, launched in 2014, carried a satellite to monitor natural disasters.
Beautiful Kapok flowers bloom in Hainan
Eye-catching beauties in Chunxi Road of Chengdu
Wedding pictures of Wu Qilong, Liu Shishi released
One of world's largest military drills in Saudi Arabia
Iron lady or goddess? Sportswomen's dress show
Versatile female soldiers in military camp
Top beauties in Chinese provinces
Follow me to my Weibo
Chinese ships keep close watch on U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group in S. China Sea
Top 20 hottest women in the world in 2014
Top 10 hardest languages to learn
10 Chinese female stars with most beautiful faces
China’s Top 10 Unique Bridges, Highways and Roads
Cainiao completes first round of fundraising
Reviving NE China needs concrete support
Elderly volunteers once seen as ‘tipsters’ now secure communities
Thanks to foreign translators, China’s thriving online lit scene is heading overseasDay|Week