China is building what one Chinese space official called the largest rocket design, production and test facility in the world, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The story quotes Liang Xiaohong, deputy head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, as saying the first phase of the construction project currently underway in the northern part of the country will be completed this year.
“Twenty of the 22 plants have been completed, and some of them are ready for operation. The base is designed to meet China’s growing demand in space technology research and development for the next 30 to 50 years, he added.”
The article is one of several on China’s burgeoning space program published by Xinhua March 3:
Others that readers might find interesting are:
China planning powerful carrier rocket for manned moon landing
China to launch first space lab by 2016
China’s Tiangong-1 to be launched by modified Long March II-F rocket
China expects to launch fifth lunar probe Chang’e-5 in 2017
