8 January 2016, 07:38 GMT
BEIJING (Sputnik) — According to Liang Xiaohong, cited by Xinhua, in 2011-2015 the country launched 86 such rockets, while in 2006-2010 the number of launches amounted to 48.
He added that the increase demonstrates China’s growing capacity in space rocket design and production.
China launched its first Long March rocket in April 1970. Since then, the family of expendable launch systems saw several generations with Long March 5 heavy lift rocket and medium Long March 7 slated to debut later this year.
China’s space program dates back to October 1956, when the country’s first rocket research institution — the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense — was established. By 2020, China plans to build its own space station to operate in orbit and create a space laboratory.
