China Space News 09-NOV-09 en-us Washington (AFP) Nov 3, 2009 - China's military has made dramatic progress in space over the past decade and the goals of its program remain unclear, a top American general said on Tuesday.]]> Washington (AFP) Nov 3, 2009 - China's military has made dramatic progress in space over the past decade and the goals of its program remain unclear, a top American general said on Tuesday.]]> Beijing (AFP) Oct 31, 2009 - Qian Xuesen, the man widely regarded as the father of China's nuclear missile and space programmes, has died at the age of 98, state-run Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.]]> Beijing, China (XNA) Oct 30, 2009 - A new satellite launch center is now under construction near Wenchang in China's southernmost island province of Hainan. Once completed, it will be the country's fourth satellite launch centre and replace the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC) for geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and other space launch missions. Yang Yong has more.]]> La Paz (AFP) Oct 23, 2009 - Bolivia signed a memorandum of understanding Friday with Chinese officials for the construction and launch of a communications satellite.]]> Moscow, Russia (RIA Novosti) Oct 20, 2009 - The launch of a Russian Phobos Grunt probe to Mars on October 16 has been delayed until 2011. The delay also affects China's first mission to Mars. The 240-pound Chinese Yinghou-1 spacecraft was to be mounted atop the Russian spacecraft for transport to the Martian orbit, where it was to be released before the Russian spacecraft landed on Phobos.]]> Beijing (AFP) Sept 26, 2009 - China will build and launch a communications satellite for Laos, Chinese media reported Saturday, following similar ventures for Nigeria and Venezuela.]]> Beijing (AFP) Sept 17, 2009 - China said Thursday its rapidly growing space programme was the crowning achievement of the nation's high-tech transformation and pledged to continue to develop it to close the gap with Western countries.]]> Wenchang, China (XNA) Sep 15, 2009 - China on Monday began construction of its new space launch center in Wenchang City, on the northeast coast of the tropical island province of Hainan, which is scheduled to be completed by 2013.]]> Beijing (AFP) Sept 14, 2009 - China began the construction of its fourth space launch centre Monday as the nation gears up for future manned space flights aboard a new generation of carrier rockets, state media reported.]]>