The Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), in charge of the space program of the Celestial Empire, published an ambitious road map until 2040. On large-scale plans for space exploration in China, writes HiTech with reference to Engadget.

The first stage will be the expansion of the family of carrier rockets "Changzheng" ("The Great March"), operated since 1970. By 2020, work is to be completed on the long-awaited inexpensive Changzheng 8 missile, thanks to which CASC will be able to enter the international market of commercial launches. In 2025 it is planned to put into operation a reusable spacecraft - it will be used primarily for space tourism.

The first flight of the next model, "Chengzheng 9", is scheduled for 2030. It will be a heavy rocket capable of bringing to low Earth orbit up to 100 tons of payload. For comparison, the Falcon Heavy heavy rocket from SpaceX, which will be launched at the end of this year or early next year, will have a carrying capacity of 70 tons. Currently, all missiles in China are disposable, but the goal of the CASC is to make the entire series of "Chengzheng" reusable by 2035.

All listed new launch vehicles should appear before 2040. They are necessary for various purposes, including interplanetary flights, the extraction of minerals on asteroids and space construction, for example, the space solar power station.

Another ambitious idea is the creation until 2040 of a space shuttle with an atomic engine, but there is as yet no intriguing project of additional information.

China's space plans do not cease to amaze with their ambitiousness. In the Middle Kingdom they have already announced their intention to investigate the dark side of the moon next year, and by 2036 to send a manned expedition. According to some estimates, China is developing the space industry five times faster than the US.