HELSINKI \u2014 China is planning a national record 100 orbital launches in 2024, according to the country\u2019s main space contractor. <\/p>
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) plans around 70 launches to send more than 290 spacecraft into orbit. The remaining launches will be performed by China\u2019s growing commercial launch sector. <\/p>
The plans are outlined in CASC\u2019s annual \u201cblue book,\u201d released <\/a>Feb. 26. The document does not provide a full launch manifest nor a detailed schedule, but offers an overview of planned activities.<\/p> Major missions include two crewed and two cargo missions to the Tiangong space station. The first half of the year will see the launch of the Queqiao-2<\/a> lunar relay satellite and Chang\u2019e-6<\/a>, a first-ever lunar far side sample return mission. <\/p> Other priorities noted include work on the country\u2019s crewed lunar landing plan, targeting putting astronauts on the moon before 2030. Deep space exploration, geostationary radar satellites, the development of a new crew spacecraft and the Tianwen-2<\/a> (2025) near Earth asteroid and Chang\u2019e-7<\/a> (2026) lunar south pole missions are also noted. <\/p>