spacetoday.net: China issues space policy white paper

Posted: Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 6:49 AM ET (1149 GMT)
The Chinese government published on Thursday a white paper describing that country's five-year plan for spaceflight, including development of new launch vehicles and a continued emphasis on space stations and lunar exploration. The white paper, issued by the Chinese State Council Information Office, follows similar papers published in 2000 and 2006 describing the country's long-term plans for space exploration. The paper largely consolidates previous statements made by Chinese officials on its space plans. Those plans include robotic lunar missions, including China's first lunar lander, as well as continued work on crewed space laboratories leading to a permanent space station. The paper also discusses long-term plans for human missions to the Moon, but sets no timetable for such missions. China will also develop new launch vehicles during the next five years, including both the large Long March 5 and the smaller Long March 6 and 7.