China to launch its first large space survey telescope in 2023: official.

ISLAMABAD -- China plans to launch its first large space survey telescope 'Xuntian' to carry out wide-area space surveys in 2023 .

"We will conduct cutting-edge scientific research on the formation and evolution of the cosmic structure, dark matter and dark energy, exoplanets and solar bodies," said Hao Chun, director of the China Manned Space Agency.

It is expected to achieve a number of major innovations, he added.

The diameter lens of Xuntian measure 6.6 feet (2 meters), making it comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope, Ecns reported .

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