Macao people donated 14.46 million yuan (2.1 million U.S. dollars) to the China Space Foundation (CSF) at a ceremony in Beijing.

The donation came from 49 Macao businessmen and the non-governmental Macao Foundation, said a statement from the CSF after the ceremony.

Of the fund, 2.5 million yuan would go to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and 1.5 million to Xichang Satellite Launch Center, said Hua Lusen, deputy director of the CSF council, in the statement.

A total of 1.85 million yuan was awarded to 14 astronauts, including the six who took part in the country's three manned space missions.

It was the third time that Macao people have given to the country's space program. They made donations in 2003 and 2005 whenShenzhou-5 and Shenzhou-6 manned spacecraft were successfully launched.

China launched Shenzhou-7 in September last year and an astronaut on board made China's first ever spacewalk.

Xu Ze, deputy director of the liaison office of the Central People's government in the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), expressed appreciation for Macao people's support.