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China Accelerates Mars Program
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."
Well did you read the article? The article quotes academicians, and they are pretty candid in admitting that they are not ready yet.
Even the headline says "Space Scientists Say China's Mars Probe 'Years Away'".
It definitely doesnt sound like propaganda.
GDP Per Capita in China: purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)
Source is CIA World Factbook
Do the math.
Yep. Not just "negation", but also other countries have seen the advantage that GPS guided weapons gives to the US, and are no doubt paying keen attention to the US's recently announced global reach weapons plans:
US to Develop High-speed Drone with Global Reach
What with the European Space Agency now in collaboration with the Russian's and China's newfound interest, it looks like the next space (weapons) race may be on.