BEIJING, Jan. 21 (China Space News) — China will send two new models of carrier rocket in the Long March series on their maiden space trips in 2016, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation President Lei Fanpei said recently.

The country's strongest carrier rocket, Long March-5 has a payload capacity of 25 tonnes to low Earth orbit, or 14 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit. It is scheduled to carry the Chang'e-5 lunar probe around 2017 to finish the last chapter in China's three-step (orbiting, landing and return) moon exploration program.

Long March-5 is currently being tested at a launch site in south China's Hainan Province.

A medium-sized rocket using liquid propellants, Long March-7 will carry cargo craft for the planned space station.

The two carrier rockets' maiden flights will significantly boost our country's ability to enter space and help realize leapfrog development in our space transportation system.