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China Accelerates Mars Program

Posted by simoniker on from the vatican-city-mission-to-venus-rsn dept.

securitas writes "You read it correctly - Mars. China has announced it intends to accelerate its Mars program, using experience and expertise from its fledgling lunar program. Following China's proposed Moon missions, the first phase would send a Mars orbiter to examine and survey the Red Planet; the second phase will involve wheeled robotic probes like China's Mars Explorer roving vehicle prototype, used to collect and analyze rock samples; and the third phase will involve returning spacecraft from the planet and establishing a permanent automated base on Mars. This puts the China-India space race and the China-USA space race in a very different light and clearly indicates that China plans to play with the big boys of Mars exploration."

23 of 365 comments (clear)

  1. this just in by t_aug · · Score: 4, Funny

    China has scrapped its mars program to sooner attain its goal of putting a human on the solar surface. Sources quoted as saying "take that you capatalist pigs."

    1. Re:this just in by Dan-DAFC · · Score: 0, Funny

      Bush has already got that one covered.

      --
      Suck figs.
  2. Where's China..? by Larsing · · Score: 5, Funny

    China is light years away from launching Mars exploration programmes

    I didn't know China was in a different solar system(!).
    Would that be Alpha Centauri or Ursa Minor Beta..?

    --
    Ethics is what you say you do. Morals is what you actually do.
    1. Re:Where's China..? by zero_offset · · Score: 3, Funny

      But I bet the ship they develop will be able to do the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs!

      --

      Slashdot quality declines as the number of hot grits posts decreases. - Provolt's Law, Apr-09-2005

  3. Put the RED back in Red Planet [EOM] by aaronlev · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sorry .. groan. I'm sure some news reporter already got to that one.

  4. My biggest fear: by Jonsey · · Score: 4, Funny

    I only worry they'll go to Europa, against the old mandate, and start drilling. Once the shambling plant-thing comes up and kills them, then the US will be laughing... Yeah.

    Thank you Arthur.

    --
    I assert that my comment is only my opinion, not that of any employer, past, present or future.
  5. Mars - The RED planet? by KaVu · · Score: 1, Funny

    Seems like in some years we will call mars the red planet for several reasons....

  6. Re:Seriously, as there is only one human race... by I+don't+want+to+spen · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why can't they all work together?

    --
    Don't go to a brothel if you want to buy broth
  7. But China can save money of safety. by MongooseCN · · Score: 3, Funny

    Judging from it's history, China doesn't have to spend as much money of safety devices and testing.

    Chinese Official: You! Citizen #32185 have been lucky enough to be chosen to fly to Mars!
    Citizen: Wh.. what?
    CO: Put him in the cannon!
    C: What's Mars?
    CO: FIRE!
    BOOM
    Technician: Looks like this one didn't make it to orbit either.
    CO: More gun powder! You! Citizen #32186 have been lucky...

    --


    Outdoor digital photography, mostly in New Engl
  8. Land, Land and more land by engineerdude · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're trying to find new homes for the 20 million people displaced by the new dam....

  9. Space Race? by fohidac · · Score: 1, Funny

    wouldn't it be cheaper, quicker and simpler if china, india and the usa just had a good old-fashioned pissing contest instead?

  10. China going to Mars? Whats the point? by brejc8 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Its allready a red planet.

    --
    Mouse powered Chips, Open source Processors and Lego
  11. Re:I don't wish them harm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Heck, going by China's reputation on fireworks, those'll sure be pretty...

  12. Re:wait, this sounds familiar..... by CaptnMArk · · Score: 1, Funny

    > metric>standard conversion problem.

    what conversion? metric is standard.

    You probably mean the conversion between metric and obsolete.

  13. Accelerate? by circletimessquare · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well, acceleration might get them there faster, but by accelerating the Chinese run the risk of overshooting Mars and flying off into the outer solar system. If they don't use Mars' gravity to brake properly, it seems kind of risky to play games like this just to get there a few weeks earlier.

    How many km/second^2 are we talking about in acceleration anyways?

    Oh wait, er... nevermind. ;-P

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  14. Re:Looks like NASA may finally get a kick in the b by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...compared to NASA's which has sent probes and landers to both Moon and Mars and even put some men on Mars...

    Dude, Mission To Mars wasn't real.

  15. Re:Finally by mark2003 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why am I not suprised by this article?

    Obviously the US military needs this to stop terrorists - I mean I can see Al Queda buildng some evil doomsday device on the moon. Who do they think Bin Laden is? Dr Evil?

  16. I feel so inadequate by chia_monkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here I was thinking we were cool with our particle accelerators. Now China comes along with their Mars accelerator program. Damnit.

    --

    "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts...for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang
  17. Re:Planning versus dreaming by BiggerIsBetter · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can draw up elaborate plans to go to Saturn or Uranus, do I have the money?

    Well, I don't know about Saturn...

    --
    Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
  18. Re:The more I read of China by Eccles · · Score: 2, Funny

    Are they betting on Bush's inability to maintain a budget?

    Now that's a gimme if I ever heard of one...

    --
    Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
  19. Re:How long? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just wait for some old Congressmen to realize that China is only after Mars because it's the Red planet.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
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  20. Re:The US was behind and ended up first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "...yet the US was the first to put someone on the moon."

    First? Only. If the Chinese are so close to landing on the moon, then I'm sure they'll be nice enough to bring us our freaking flag back as proof.

  21. Re:The US was behind and ended up first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It'd be even funnier if they went there and couldn't FIND said US flag.

    "Are you rearry SURE you randed on the moon?"