China aims for commercial race with at least 20 Long March-8 rocket launches a year

BEIJING, Dec 27 (SCMP): China will streamline assembly of its Long March-8 rocket and aim to make more than 20 launches a year, according to the programme’s chief officer.

Commander-in-chief Xiao Yun said on an official government WeChat account that China’s goal was to launch rockets as simply and quickly as possible. His remarks were published on Tuesday, hours after the new rocket’s maiden launch from the southern island of Hainan.