City experts develop next generation of rockets

By Zhang Jun  |   2008-6-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SHANGHAI is developing the country's next generation of rockets and satellites, researchers at the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology said yesterday.

They made the comments at a ceremony to welcome the academy experts who returned from Taiyuan, Shanxi Province after the successful launch of Fengyun-3.

More than 100 local space technology experts and engineers went to the launch site in Taiyuan for the new orbiter which will serve high quality weather forecasts for the country, including the upcoming Olympic Games.

The satellite was equipped with 12 advanced detectors such as an infrared scan actinograph, that calculates the time of photographic exposures, and a microwave formatter to ensure precise weather forecasts.

Experts from the academy said the city was also in charge of developing the new Fengyun-4 weather orbiter - a geostationary satellite - and Long March-5 rocket.