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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."

13 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."

  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..?

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    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!

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  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.

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  5. 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?

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  6. 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...

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  7. 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....

  8. 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?

  9. 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
  10. 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...

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    Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.

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