If China is to build a new satellite launch base in its
southernmost island province of Hainan, the base will mainly be used for
commercial launches, a leading official said in Beijing on
Tuesday.
"Moreover, the fuel used by the launch vehicles will be free of
toxics, harmful materials or pollutants. No nuclear fuel will be
used," said Wei Liucheng, secretary of the Hainan Provincial
Committee of the Communist Party of China.
However, Wei didn't confirm whether the government has decided
to establish the base in Hainan, and refused to give any further
details such as when the construction work will start.
Wei, also a deputy to the 10th National People's Congress (NPC)
, China's top legislature, now in its annual full session in
Beijing, made the remarks at a panel discussion of lawmakers from
Hainan.
Wei noted that technically speaking, Hainan is an ideal location
for heavy-load satellite launches, as the tropical island is close
to the equator, making it possible to save fuel and improve safety
for space launches compared with existing space bases in the
northern and western hinterland.
The proposed new space base will also adopt an open mode of
commercial operation, which will help boost local tourism, he
added.
China now already has three space bases in Jiuquan of the
northwestern Gansu Province, Xichang of the southwestern Sichuan Province and Taiyuan of the northern
Shanxi Province.
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2007)