China to launch its largest carrier rocket later this year

China planned to launch the Long March-5, its largest carrier rocket, in the latter half of this year, said a senior official with the country's space program on Saturday.

The rocket, designed to carry 25 tonnes into low Earth orbit, will be launched from the Wenchang satellite launch center in south China's Hainan Province, which is the biggest and best of the country's all four launch grounds, said Wang Jingzhong, senior official with the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, at a press conference after the successful launch of Long March-7, China's new generation carrier rocket.

Wenchang will be used to launch satellites, low and medium earth orbit spacecrafts, large space stations and deep-space probes, he said.

In the next few years, the Chang'e-5 lunar probe and modules of China's space station will also be launched from here. Endi