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China tops space launch list for 2018

Sci-Tech

Stats show the number of space launches from China this year has hit 37, making China the top destination in the world for space launches for the first time.

China Plus丨Updated: December 27, 2018

Stats show the number of space launches from China this year has hit 37, making China the top destination in the world for space launches for the first time. This follows a launch on Tuesday, December 25, 2018 of a telecommunication satellite.

Long March-3C carrier rocket blasts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 25, 2018. China successfully launched the No. 3 telecommunication technology test satellite on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]


Among the 37 launches, 36 have involved the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The other involved the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation. Chinese private rocket firm LandSpace also attempted to launch a satellite on October 27, 2018. However, that mission failed.

The 31st and final space launch of 2018 in the United States took place on December 23, with the US Air Force contracting SpaceX to put up the first satellite for an updated GPS system.

Russia, the European Space Agency, India and Japan have conducted 16, 11, 7 and 6 launches respectively this year.

Responding to the number of Chinese launches this year, Elon Musk, CEO of the SpaceX, tweeted on Monday that he is amazed by the amount of progress being made in China in space exploration.

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