Beijing: China will launch a record ten satellites this year, including some with cooperation from foreign nations countries as its astronauts prepare for the country's first spacewalk.

The launch list includes Shenzhou VII spaceship, two environmental satellites, the Fengyun-2 meteorological satellite and a Venezuelan communications satellite, a top scientist was quoted as saying by the state-run China Daily.

Over the past two years, China launched an average of eight spacecraft, this year it will launch at least 10.

"Chinas space technology has entered a new stage. The design and manufacture of satellites takes less time, and homemade satellites are more reliable and have a longer lifespan," Yang Baohua, chief of the China Academy of Space Technology, told a forum.

In October last year, China successfully launched its maiden lunar probe, Change-1, the first of a series of Moon-bound missions for lunar exploration.

China had sent its first astronaut into orbit in 2003 on board its own Shenzhou V spacecraft for 21 hours, followed two years later by two more astronauts on a five-day flight.

The launch of Shenzhou VII is the highlight of the year because of the spacewalk, Yang said, adding that it would mark a breakthrough in the technology of extravehicular operation.

The launch date has not yet been fixed.

He said Shenzhen VII would conduct spacecraft rendezvous and docking -- key technologies to be mastered for the country to launch space laboratories and a space station.

Yang said China plans to master the technologies in two attempts as compared to other nations which conduct 20 to 30 flight experiments to do so.

Most of Chinas satellites, including Shenzhou spaceships, have been designed by the Academy.

Source : PTI