China aims to launch 100 satellites with 100 rockets between 2011-2015

Beijing, March 11 (ANI): China has set a target of completing a space mission of "100 rockets, 100 satellites" between 2011 and 2015.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) Deputy General Manager Zhang Jianheng said the country would accomplish about 20 launch missions every year till 2015,Xinhua reports.

"The densely arranged launch missions and flight tests have posed an unprecedented challenge to the country's space program," Jianheng added.

China launched 19 satellites, a target orbiter Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 spacecraft with 19 Long March rockets in 2011, he added.

He pointed out that China has surpassed the United States, which completed 18 launches in 2011, to become the world's No. 2 in terms of launch numbers.

Zhang said CASC raked in 100 billion Yuan (15.87 billion U.S. dollars) in operating income in 2011, bringing the company's total assets to over 200 billion Yuan.

He said the company will maintain a growth rate of about 20 percent annually and its operating income is expected to hit 250 billion Yuan by 2015. (ANI)