China has successfully launched the Long March 5 heavy rocket into space. The rocket is sending its payload into orbit as part of the country's effort to advance its space exploration program.

Last month, China successfully sent two astronauts into space. The astronauts will spend one month in a space laboratory as part of the plan to have a permanent space station by 2022.

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In a statement acquired by Reuters, China's Central Committee said, "Its successful launch has propelled China to the forefront of the world in terms of rocket carrying capacity, and marks a milestone in China's transition from a major player in space to a major power in space."

The Long March 5 is a two-stage rocket that is capable of putting a payload weighing 25 tons into low-Earth orbit. The same rocket can propel a payload weighing 14 tons into geostationary transfer orbit.

The Long March 5 is China's prized asset in terms of space exploration. This high-performance space rocket can help China achieve its goal of building a manned space station and explore nearby celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars.

Aside from advancing the country's space program, China is also creating a new tourist market by opening its rocket launch pads to the public. In the past, China was known for its ultra-secretive space program. However, this approach has been changed as the country started to open up to the public.

According to Forbes, the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center has attracted more than 80,000 tourists after China started opening up its facilities to the public. This has created new business opportunities for nearby cities to cater to basic demands like accommodation and transport.

China's decision to open up its space project to the public has had a positive impact. Previously, the project was deemed by several international institutions as a highly covert military project. Now that China has opened it up to the public, it has somewhat eased tension.