P. B. KAMENNOV

Candidate of Political Sciences Institute of the Far East of the Russian Academy of Sciences

China's space program Keywords:, space industry, artificial Earth satellites, manned flights, satellite support system, space centers, military aspects, international cooperation in the field of space

In China's national strategy, which aims to become one of the leading innovative powers by 2020, a special place is occupied by the space program, which is assigned an important role in strengthening the country's economic, scientific and technical potential, defense capability, and as a factor contributing to the cohesion of the Chinese nation.

The origin of the Chinese space program and the first steps in its implementation are associated with the name of the outstanding Chinese scientist Qian Xuesen, who received an education and worked for many years (until 1955) in the United States in the field of jet engines, aerodynamics, liquid and solid-fuel rockets. Qian Xuesen was also the author of the concepts of the nuclear aircraft engine, manned space flight, and the ultra-high-speed passenger airliner ¹.

Qian Xuesen was a strong advocate of China's ability to catch up with the West in technology. After returning to China, he achieved priority attention to the creation of the nuclear, rocket and space industries, and in the following two decades led the work on the creation of new technology, including space (launch vehicles, artificial earth satellites ,communication and telemetry systems, ground-based space infrastructure). Qian Xuesen was also credited with training a whole generation of talented Chinese scientists who are committed to the future.

Extensive scientific and technical cooperation with the Soviet Union was of great importance for the development of the Chinese space industry. The development of rocket technologies received from the Soviet Union in 1957-1962 in accordance with the Soviet-Chinese cooperation agreements2 allowed China to succeed in launching the first artificial satellite in 1970, and in certain areas of space technology to take a worthy place among the most developed countries in the world.

According to the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), today the pace of development of rocket and space technology is approximately the same in Russia, the United States and China. True, China lags behind Russia and the United States by an average of 30 years, but the gap is rapidly closing, as the Chinese go through the previous Russian ten-year period of development in three years. The high speed of implementation of the Chinese space program is explained by the fact that it enjoys active state support, is well funded and makes extensive use of foreign technologies. The number of employees in the space industry is several times higher than the corresponding Russian indicator, and space exploration is declared priority ³ in China. The goals of this activity are: exploration of outer space and the Earth; meeting the growing needs of economic construction; ensuring national security, protecting China's national interests, increasing the total national power; developing science and technology.

Activities in outer space are based on the principle of independence and self - reliance. At the same time, great importance is attached to the development of international cooperation and the use of foreign space technologies.

In this area, China follows a strategy whose main features are::

- integrated planning that provides for the achievement of both long-term and short-term goals, as well as the coordinated development of spacecraft systems and ground-based space infrastructure;

- stimulating progress in space technologies and increasing the economic impact of space activities; special attention is paid to finding the most economical and efficient methods of space activities that ensure the solution of the tasks set at the lowest cost;

- concentration of efforts on a limited number of priority areas that are vital for the national economy and social development.

To date, China's space industry has reached a significant scientific and technological level and scale. The country has developed an extensive system of research, development, testing and production of space technology, which allows launching various types of satellites, as well as manned spacecraft. To support them, a telemetry and control system has been deployed, including ground stations on the territory of the country and sea vessels operating in the world's oceans. Satellite systems, as well as a complex of scientific institutions engaged in space research, have been created and effectively operate for the benefit of society and the economy. Important scientific discoveries were made with their help4.

In a number of key areas-

China has reached a world-class level in the development of space technologies. These include: the return of a satellite lander, the launch of several satellites with a single rocket, the use of cryogenic fuel rockets, the launch of geostationary satellites, as well as control, communication and telemetry satellites. Important practical results have been obtained in the development and application of remote observation satellites, telecommunications satellites, as well as in the testing of manned spacecraft, progress has been made in the implementation of manned space flights, and in scientific research of life in outer space.⁵

LEADING ROLE OF STATE BODIES

In the context of the formation and development of the market mechanism in the Chinese economy, the state manages space activities at the macro level, develops general plans for the development of space science and technology, coordinates research and development, and applies the results achieved in the economy, science and technology, culture, and in the interests of national defense. All possible measures are being taken to ensure the sustainable development of the space industry. These include, in particular, improving the legal framework and production management methods, ensuring that activities in space comply with certain standards, and supporting innovations in the field of space technologies using an incentive system that enhances the potential for technological renewal of the industry.

State support for the industry is combined with the use of market principles. In this regard, it should be noted that the space industry was reorganized in the late 1990s to include a competitive mechanism: the former Chinese Space Industry Corporation, which had a monopoly position in its field, was reorganized into two corporations:

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASTC) and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)⁶.

Both corporations are state-owned commercial enterprises. Each has a structure that allows for full scientific research, development and production of both military and civilian space and other high-tech products. So, the first of them, which is under the jurisdiction of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, includes 137 research institutions, factories and firms; about 110 thousand employees (40% of them are technical specialists). The corporation produces launch vehicles, produces a wide range of space equipment, including satellites, equipment for information systems, communication systems, etc., and launches space rockets.⁷

At the current stage, integration of science and technology within the framework of established research and production associations remains an urgent problem for the industry in order to overcome the continuing scientific and technical lag behind the level of developed countries in certain areas of space technology (such as the efficiency and quality of on-board satellite equipment, reliability of spacecraft life support systems, etc.).

ARTIFICIAL EARTH SATELLITE SYSTEM

China's first satellite, Dongfanghong-1, was successfully launched on April 24, 1970. By October 2000, China had built and launched 47 satellites of various types, with over 90% of launches being successful. At the initial stage, China created four series of satellites, namely the remote observation satellite with a lander, the Dongfanghong telecommunications satellite, the Fengyun meteorological satellite, and the Shijian research and experimental satellite. The Ziyuan series of Earth resource exploration satellites is currently under development.

China is the third country in the world that has mastered the technology of returning satellites to Earth with reliability that meets international standards, and the fifth country in the world that is able to independently develop and launch geostationary telecommunications satellites. By the early 1990s, China had reached a world-class level in the field of meteorological satellite technology and satellite exploration of Earth's resources. By the end of the 20th century, according to Xu Fuxiang, Vice President of the Institute of Space Technology of the People's Republic of China, China had mastered the production of high-tech small satellites for civil and military needs, including navigation and telecommunications satellites.⁸

2001-2005 China independently developed and put into orbit 22 satellites of various types and modifications. By the end of this period, the Chinese satellite family, which previously consisted of four series, has expanded to six series and now includes more advanced remote sensing return satellites, DFN communications and broadcasting satellites, FY weather satellites, SY research and experimental satellites, and BD navigation satellites. Currently, a series of marine monitoring satellites is being developed. By technical characteristics and

The reliability of Chinese satellite systems is close to or meets international standards. Thus, the FY-1 and FY-2 weather satellites are included by the World Meteorological Organization in the international system of operational meteorological satellites ⁹.

In the period up to 2000, China used its own "Great Trek" series of launch vehicles to launch satellites, which includes 12 types of rockets capable of launching satellites into near-Earth, geostationary and near-solar orbits. The power of the rockets made it possible to launch objects weighing 9,5 tons into low-Earth orbit, which mainly met the requirements of customers. According to statistics, the number of successful launches of Chinese launch vehicles of this series was about 90% of their total number, which allowed China to occupy 7-9% of the international space market in 1990-1997.¹⁰

Currently, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) is developing a new generation of heavy launch vehicles "Great Trek-5", which use non-toxic fuel components and allow launching payloads weighing 0.5 - 25 tons (currently 9 tons) and geostationary low-Earth orbits. orbit - loads of 4-15 tons (currently 5 tons). It is assumed that the new rockets will provide the launch of manned spacecraft, space stations and other heavy space equipment over the next 20-30 years. The development of the first rocket model will be completed in 2012. In addition, the academy is studying the possibility of developing super-heavy launch vehicles that can be used for lunar expeditions. The launch weight of such a rocket can be 3 thousand tons. Presumably, the payload of the rocket will be close to the payload of the American Saturn-5 rocket (about 137 tons), which was used for manned expeditions to the Moon."

According to the China National Space Administration, the China Space Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is developing a project for the Great Trek-6 launch vehicle, which will use new environmentally friendly technologies.¹²

The Chinese space program is characterized by the use of existing military rocket technology to perform a wide range of very diverse tasks. So, the Chinese company of solid-fuel rockets (Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier (SSRC), which is part of the Corporation of Aerospace Science and Industry of China (CASIC), is developing on the basis of the Dongfeng-31A ICBM and the Dongfeng-21 medium-range rocket of the Pioneer family of solid-fuel launch vehicles. These rockets are designed to launch small satellites weighing from 300 to 500 kg into orbit at urgent requests, capable of monitoring fires, floods, marine pollution, as well as performing other tasks in the interests of science, economy and national security. Since 2006, an average of 10 launches of the Pioneer family of missiles have been carried out annually.

MANNED SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM

China is the third country in the world to independently carry out manned space flights. After the first launch and return to Earth of the experimental Shenzhou spacecraft in November 1999, China carried out three successful manned space flights in the following years: on October 15-16, 2003, on the Shengzhou-5 spacecraft with the first Chinese cosmonaut on board, which was PLA Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Yang Liwei, on October 12-17, 2005. - on the Shenzhou-6 spacecraft with two cosmonauts ¹³ and in September 2007 - on the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft with three cosmonauts.

In 2004, China launched a lunar exploration program that aims to gain access to helium-3, which is abundant on this Earth satellite, with the prospect of using it as an environmentally friendly energy source in nuclear power plants, as well as for the production of nuclear weapons. The Chinese Lunar Research Center, established in August 2006, is responsible for lunar projects.

During the first stage of the Lunar Program, in October 2007, the first Chang'e-1 research satellite was launched, designed to collect data on the lunar surface, take three-dimensional images of it, and study wave radiation. Chang'e-1, while in lunar orbit, transmitted images of the lunar surface from an altitude of about 200 km, which made it possible to create the first heat map of the Moon, as well as a map of its surface with a resolution of 120 m ¹⁴.

At the current second stage (2010-2012), it is planned to land an unpiloted self-propelled vehicle on the Moon, at the third stage (until 2020), collect samples of lunar soil using an automatic probe (lunar rover), and in 2024 (approximately), Chinese cosmonauts will land on ^the Moon15.

SATELLITE OPERATION SUPPORT SYSTEM

China has created an integrated telecommunicationsand telemetry system designed to support the operation of satellites in near-Earth and geostationary orbits, as well as experimental space objects. As noted above, the system includes ground stations and sea vessels. The technology used in the system allows it to integrate into the international space and telecommunications network.

Over the past two decades, China has made extensive use of artificial Earth satellites for remote surveillance, telecommunications, and navigation. Remote surveillance and telecommunications satellites account for more than 70% of all Chinese satellites created and launched into orbit. These satellites are widely used in many areas of economy, science and technology, culture, as well as in the interests of national defense. Established and successfully implemented between-

international cooperation with the use of foreign satellites for scientific research in the field of satellite application technology.

China started using its own and foreign remote observation satellites in the early 70s and carried out research in the development and development of remote observation technologies using satellites, which are widely used in meteorology, coal mining, agriculture and forestry, irrigation, oceanography, seismology, and urban planning.

These activities are coordinated by a network of central agencies that includes the National Remote Observation Center, the National Satellite Meteorological Center, the China Natural Resources Satellite Exploration Center, the China Satellite Oceanographic Center, and the China Ground-based Remote Observation Satellite Station.

Research institutes operating under the relevant ministries of the State Council, provinces, municipalities, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences use the information received from the satellite for applied research in the field of weather forecasting, territory observation, crop species assessment, forest surveillance, natural disaster monitoring, storm warnings, urban planning,etc. topographies. The use of a system of meteorological satellites has significantly improved the accuracy of forecasting natural disasters and thereby significantly reduce the economic damage caused by these phenomena.

Since the mid-1980s, China has started using telecommunications satellites in communication systems, weather forecasting, and education. For this purpose, dozens of large and medium-sized ground-based satellite stations have been built, providing more than 27,000 international telephone communication channels covering more than 180 countries and regions of the world. Creation of a public satellite communication system, numbering 70 thousand people. The use of satellite telephone channels was an important step in solving communication problems in remote areas. In addition, more than 80 specialized satellite communication systems have been created for dozens of departments responsible for finance, meteorology, transport, oil, water resources, civil aviation, energy, public health, and mass media.

Using telecommunications satellites, China has created a global television network, as well as an educational television network covering the entire territory of the country. In 2000, the latter included 33 relay satellites serving 47 television programs of China Central Television, as well as a number of local transmitting television stations serving 40 local television programs. Satellite television educational programs are widely used, and more than 30 million people have received secondary education.

In addition to domestic satellite systems, China makes extensive use of foreign satellite systems to monitor the Earth's surface, navigate, monitor earthquakes, prevent forest fires, and manage urban transport.¹⁶

China has four space centers at its disposal: Shuangchengzi and Jiuquan (prov. Gansu), Xichang (prov. Sichuan) and Taiyuan (southwest of Beijing). In 1990, a fifth one was added to them, located near the equator on Hainan Island and designed to launch limited-power rockets. In addition, China has a space tracking and monitoring station located on Temawaiku Atoll, which belongs to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. The station is located in accordance with an agreement signed between the two countries in 1997 and is used to track missiles launched from Chinese territory.¹⁷ In recent years, the Jiuquan, Xichang and Taiyuan cosmodromes have been modernized to expand their capabilities for conducting complex tests and launching launch vehicles, satellites, unmanned experimental and manned spacecraft.

MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE SPACE PROGRAM

Analyzing the experience of armed conflicts over the past decade, China comes to the conclusion about the increasing importance of space for national defense.

According to Chinese military theorists, the war of the future will be conducted in a multidimensional space that includes land, sea, air, space and electronic environment. At the same time, actions at the strategic, operational and tactical levels are conducted simultaneously to the entire depth of the combat zone; the boundaries between the front and rear become blurred, the pace of hostilities increases, and the duration of the war is reduced. Space-based systems are becoming the main means of ensuring combat operations in the era of informatization.

So, during the war in Iraq, the US armed forces used more than 90 artificial Earth satellites and 36 ground-based space stations. 70% of intelligence information, 80% of communications data, and 90% of meteorological information was obtained and transmitted through space-based systems, which led to a significant increase in the effectiveness of combat operations.¹⁸ The space industry, which is run by the National Space Agency of China, is closely linked to the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), which oversees all launch vehicles and artificial Earth satellites. These functions are carried out by units of the General Directorate of Armaments and Military Equipment of the PLA through the network of the above-mentioned ground tracking stations in China.

US analysts believe that in the field of military space exploration, China is implementing measures to create intelligence, command, control, communications, surveillance and reconnaissance systems with space-based elements. Also, on the OS-

After studying the experience of operations of the US-led coalition forces in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, China came to the conclusion that it is necessary to create and quickly deploy anti-satellite systems. Work in this area is carried out in three directions.

The first of them includes measures to improve the existing system for tracking and identifying space objects; the second - the creation of low-power ground-based laser devices designed to "blind" the sensor elements of enemy satellites located in low-Earth orbits; ¹⁹ the third - the creation of small-sized maneuvering satellites capable of approaching enemy satellites, either destroying them or destroying them. disrupting the operation of their onboard electronics ²⁰.

In this regard, attention is drawn to the report of the Xinhua news Agency on the formation in China of the largest holding company for the production of laser equipment - Huagong Research and Production Association, created in 2007 on the basis of the merger of enterprises for the production of laser equipment - Huagong, Chutian and Tuanjie. The new association will become the country's largest manufacturer of laser equipment of various capacities used in many industries. 21 On January 12, 2007, China used a ballistic missile to destroy its outdated Fengyun^{-1C weather satellite,} which was in low-Earth orbit over Sichuan Province at an altitude of more than 800 km22, which may be related to the test of a type of anti-satellite weapons.

ROLE AND PLACE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Acting within the framework of and in accordance with the Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit of All Countries, Especially Developing Countries, adopted by the 51st Session of the UN General Assembly in 1996, China is an active participant in international cooperationin outer space.

China's efforts in this area are aimed at meeting the country's modernization needs and domestic and foreign market demands related to space science and technology.

In the period from 2000 to 2005. China has signed cooperation agreements on the peaceful uses of space and joint space projects with Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia and Ukraine, as well as with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission. In particular, China and Brazil, France, Russia, Ukraine and a number of other countries have established a mechanism for cooperation between sub-commissions or joint commissions on cosmonautics. Memoranda of cooperation were signed with the space agencies of India and the United Kingdom. Exchanges are underway with space agencies in Algeria, Chile, Germany, Italy, Japan, Peru, and the United States. Together with ESA, a program was implemented to launch two Tanze satellites into near-Earth space. China and ESA have launched the Dragon joint program, which focuses on remote sensing of the Earth and includes 16 projects related to agriculture, forestry, water management, meteorology, oceanology, and disaster forecasting.²³

In the period from 1985, when the Government of the People's Republic of China issued a statement on providing services for launching satellites on a commercial basis, to 2005, China carried out 62 successful launches of launch vehicles, which put 39 Chinese and 28 foreign satellites into orbit and five Shenzhou spacecraft (four experimental unmanned and one with a crew on board)²⁴.

COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

Cooperation with Russia is of particular importance for the implementation of China's space projects. It is implemented within the framework of a number of agreements covering such areas as satellite navigation, surveillance, communications, manned flights and including such forms of cooperation as the creation of joint projects, information exchange, testing of space systems, exchange of scientific and technical personnel, etc. ²⁵

For the period from 2001 to 2006 China has signed 67 contracts with Russia on 43 topics. In September 2006, a new program of bilateral cooperation in the field of outer space was adopted, including 38 projects and topics. In addition, the Chinese side also proposed 20 new cooperation topics that are currently under consideration. One of the most ambitious programs is the participation of Russian scientists in the Chinese lunar exploration program, which involves automatic spacecraft performing an unpiloted flight to the Moon, its flyby, landing, photo exploration and soil sampling. Other projects include a program to create a joint effort and launch into Earth orbit a device for observing deep space in the ultraviolet range, as well as a program to create a radio telescope "Ra-dioastron"²⁶. The project is carried out under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In 2010-2011. China took part in an international space experiment organized by Russia with the participation of several countries, which is a simulation of an expedition to Mars. The experiment lasted 520 days and allowed obtaining scientific data of great importance for the world of space biology and medicine on various aspects of real space flight, such as the psychological compatibility of crew members in confined spaces, special nutrition, limited information, etc.

According to Russian analysts, despite the failure of the Phobos-Grunt project with the Chinese space probe Inho-1 in 2011, Russian-Chinese cooperation in space remains promising. Mutual interest in such cooperation is due to both objective factors, such as the need for cooperation, division of labor-

research, co-financing, and the presence of long-term and generally successful experience of cooperation in this area ²⁷.

PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND JOINT PROJECTS

China is a party to a number of major international agreements in the field of space exploration and development. Among them are the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Objects", "Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts and the Return to Earth of Astronauts and Objects Launched into Space", "Convention on Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects", "Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Space". into space." In addition, China participates in such multilateral joint projects as the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, Global Weather Monitoring, the United Nations Decade for Disaster Reduction, and others.

China, together with Canada and France as co-chair countries, supports the" Action Group " (7th group), consisting of 40 member countries of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and 15 international organizations, in disaster management using orbital space technology systems. China participated in the "Ad Hoc Expert Group on the Justification of a Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Management" under the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and joined the "Charter of Cooperation on the Coordinated Use of the Orbital Technical System in the Event of Major Natural and Man-made Disasters", which was signed by space agencies of many countries. In cooperation with UN agencies, China has organized "Lectures on Basic Cosmonautics" under the auspices of the United Nations, the European Space Agency and China itself, as well as "Lectures on Remote Medical Diagnostics in the Asia - Pacific region" under the auspices of the United Nations and China. Together with the Asia-Pacific Multilateral Space Cooperation Secretariat and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, China has repeatedly organized seminars and courses on applied space science, providing financial support to their participants.

In May 2005, China became a full member of the International Organization for Earth Surface Observation and a member of its executive Committee. In July 2006, the 36th Scientific Assembly of the International Committee for Space Research (COSPAR) and the 8th International Conference on Lunar Exploration and Use were held in Beijing. China has also participated in specialized events organized by the International Telecommunication Union, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Astronautical Federation, and the International Committee for Outer Space Research28.

Since 1995, the Chinese National Space Agency has been a member of the international coordination committee for the prevention of space debris. Activities in this area rely on state support from research institutes, industrial enterprises, universities and colleges involved in international exchange and cooperation.

CHINA AND ASIA-PACIFIC COOPERATION

Along with multilateral international cooperation in the field of space exploration and development, it is important to support regional cooperation within the Asia-Pacific region, where China is striving to take a dominant position.

In 1992, China, Thailand, Pakistan and several other countries sponsored the "Asia-Pacific Symposium on Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technologies". The symposium served as an incentive for the signing of a memorandum of cooperation in the creation of multifunctional satellites in April 1998, which was joined by the Governments of China, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand. China continues to promote the implementation of the project "Small multi-purpose satellites in the framework of multilateral cooperation of the Asia-Pacific countries". At the same time, it is working jointly on the development and application of such satellites with Bangladesh, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand.

Since 1988, China has provided developing countries with annual scholarships to train specialists in space technology. An important milestone in the development of regional cooperation in the field of space exploration was the first regional conference of the Asia-Pacific countries at the ministerial level on the use of space for the sustainable development of these countries, organized in Beijing in 1994. A few years later (in 1999), a regional symposium on promoting sustainable agricultural development was held in Beijing in cooperation with the United Nations and the European Space Agency.

In October 2005, representatives of the Governments of eight countries - China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru and Thailand-signed the "Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization Convention"in Beijing. Turkey joined in June 2006. The headquarters of this organization is planned to be accredited in Beijing. All this indicates a movement towards institutionalization of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization.

FUTURE PLANS

On the growing attention of the Chinese leadership to rashi-

The development of space activities is highlighted by Chinese President Hu Jintao's speech at the 15th General Meeting of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Engineering Academy in Beijing in June 2010, which was attended by more than 1,400 academicians and top officials of central government agencies and institutions of the People's Republic of China. Hu Jintao pointed out the need to fully develop space science and technology, increase the scientific potential for space exploration and exploration, for observing the Earth's surface, and information potential; and make breakthrough discoveries in the field of space exploration and its peaceful use.

In the foreseeable future, China will continue to support international exchanges and cooperation in the fields of space technology, applied space exploration and space exploration, giving priority to the following areas: ²⁹

- scientific research in the field of space astronomy and physics, microgravity, life sciences in space, lunar and planetary sounding;

- establishment of general access and provision of services in the use of information data from Earth observation satellites;

- resource exploration, environmental monitoring, prevention and reduction of losses from natural disasters;

- monitoring and forecasting of global climate change;

- establishment of general access to information data obtained by spacecraft tracking and flight control networks, interaction in tracking and flight control of spacecraft; development and production of telecommunications satellites and earth observation satellites;

- manufacture of ground-based equipment and key components and components intended for satellite communications, satellite remote sensing and satellite navigation;

- application of satellite communications and broadcasting in the field of distance learning and remote medical diagnostics, expansion of the scope of satellite broadcasting, provision of satellite navigation services;

- commercial satellite launches, export of satellites and their components, ground tracking and flight control of satellites, construction and maintenance of ground structures;

- training and exchanges of specialists in various fields of space activities.

China's strategy for space exploration in the twenty-first century provides for further development of the space industry and expansion of its scope of application.

In the future, it is planned to achieve industrial development and marketing of space technologies and space equipment by 2020, which will meet a wide range of requirements for economic construction, state security, and the development of science and technology. It is planned to combine the creation of a satellite system for various purposes and the corresponding ground-based satellite equipment into a single multifunctional space system designed for long-term and sustainable operation in accordance with state plans. ³⁰

By 2020, China plans to complete the second-generation Beidou satellite navigation system, which includes 30 Chinese-made satellites; in 2011-2015, 12 to 14 satellites will be put into orbit. It is expected that in 2012 the system will cover Asia-Pacific region.-

The Pacific region, and the entire globe in 2020 ³¹. In total, it is planned to have more than 200 satellites in orbit by 2020.

An analysis of China's satellite launch activities in recent years shows that this program is being successfully implemented. In 2004, China launched 10 satellites into low-Earth orbit. According to available information, the same number of satellites were launched in 2005 and 200632, and in 2008 ¹⁵ more were launched into orbit ³³. In 2010, China launched ¹⁵ space objects, including 5 satellites of the Beidou satellite navigation system34. In total, by 2011, China had completed 130 space launches, of which 94.4% were successful, compared to the same global average of 93.7% ^.35 Thus, in the field of safety and technical reliability of spacecraft and their launch into low-Earth orbits, China has come closer to international standards.

By 2020, China intends to launch the Tiangong space station into low-Earth orbit with new capabilities for conducting large-scale space experiments, ³⁶ as well as for developing military space technologies. ³⁷ As a first step in this direction, in November 2011, a double docking with the Tiangong-1 module of the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft was carried out, followed by the arrival and docking of the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10^. 38

The development of space science and technologies for their application is planned to be carried out in accordance with coordinated programs, focusing on the most pressing key issues; at the same time, it is planned to further expand international cooperation, primarily with the aim of promoting the development of the Chinese space industry.

Due to the fact that activities in space require the concentration of huge capital investments, complex technologies and involve human and commercial risks, special attention is expected to be paid to improving the efficiency of science management in order to ensure the reliability of space technology being created and achieve better commercial results.

Further space exploration is associated with the idea of creating favorable conditions for attracting talents and creating a contingent of young highly qualified scientists and engineers - space specialists; for the same purpose, measures are supposed to be implemented to popularize knowledge about space and create incentives in society for the development of the space industry.

^{Stokes Mark A.} 1 China's Strategic Modernization: Implication's for the United States / by Strategic Studies Institute, USA. 1999, p. 169 - 170.

² World economy and International relations. 1995, N 8, p. 37.

³ ITAR-TASS, INOTASS, 26.12.2006.

⁴ Guangming zhibao, 11/23/2000^.

⁵ Ibid.

^{Plotnikov A.} 6 Strukturno-ekonomicheskie aspekty reformy voenno-promyshlennogo kompleksa Kitaia [Structural and economic aspects of the reform of the military-industrial complex of China].

⁷ Notices of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, 2000, No. 6.

⁸ INFO TASS. 10.08.2006.

⁹ White Paper of the People's Republic of China on Space Activities. 2006 (China.org.cn, 23.11.2006). ¹⁰ Ibid.

¹¹ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10762634

¹² Military parity, 09.09.2009.

¹³ ITAR-TASS. 26.10.2006.

¹⁴ RIA: United feed. 29.11.2010.

¹⁵ Interfax-news. 01.06.2010^.

¹⁶ Guangming zhibao...

¹⁷ INFO TASS. September 21, 1999.

^{Jen Xiong Guangkai.} 18 On World Revolution in Military Affairs and the Chinese Army Building // International Strategic Studies, 4^tn Issue. 2003, p. 1 - 5.

¹⁹ Annual Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People's Republic of China. 2005. Department of Defense, USA - http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul 2005/d20050719china.pdf; p. 36.

²⁰ Nezavisimoe voennoe obozrenie [Independent Military Review], 2004, No. 14.

²¹ ITAR-TASS, INOTASS, 15.01.2007.

²² ITAR-TASS, INOTASS, 19.01.2007.

²³ White Paper of the People's Republic of China on Space Activities...

²⁴ China Daily, 13.04.2005.

^{Stokes Mark A.} 25 Op. cit., p. 178.

²⁶ ITAR-TASS, INOTASS. 06.07.2006.

²⁷ China, 312 (74), December 2011 - www.china.com

²⁸ White Paper of the People's Republic of China on Space Activities...

²⁹ Ibid.

³⁰ Guangming daily...

³¹ Annual Report to Congress on the Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China. 2011. Department of Defense, USA, p. 5.

³² Annual Report to Congress... 2005, p. 36.

³³ Annual Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2009. Department of Defense, USA - http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/03.25.2009, p. 45.

³⁴ Annual Report to Congress on the Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, 2011...

^{[email protected]} 35. 3/11/2011.

³⁶ The Military Power of China - www.sinodefence.com.

³⁷ www.infuture.ru.article/1828.

³⁸ China, 312 (74), December 2011...

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