spacetoday.net: News briefs: October 13-14

Posted: Mon, Oct 15, 2001, 12:55 AM ET (0455 GMT)
Chinese officials are planning to launch 30 satellites in the next five years, an official said recently. The Chinese media reported Saturday that Xu Fuxiang, head of the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, said that the additional satellites will be used for a number of functions, including telecommunications, weather, and remote sensing. Chinese officials also stated earlier this month that they plan to send a robotic spacecraft to the Moon, but did not provide additional details or an estimated date of such a mission... The Kennedy Space Center is considering eliminating a popular type of pass to view shuttle launches, Florida Today reported Saturday. KSC normally gives out passes that allow people to park their cars during launches on the causeway that links the space center with the mainland, less than 15 kilometers from the launch site. The decision is being considered as part of plans to increase security at the space center: security personnel that would normally direct traffic on the causeway could instead be reassigned to other, more pressing security needs. A decision on the fate of the car passes is expected in the coming week, according to the newspaper.