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China Sets Sights on Comprehensive Lunar Survey
eldavojohn writes "Perhaps unsatisfied with the closeups that Google Moon has to offer, China has decided to survey the moon down to the 'inch'. In the second half of 2007, they plan to launch an unmanned lunar satellite to first orbit the moon, land on the moon & then return samples to earth for them to analyze. '"The moon probe project is the third milestone in China's space technology after satellite and manned spacecraft projects, and a first step for us in exploring deep space," the China National Space Administration head said. The orbiter represented the first phase, with a moon rover to be used in the second phase scheduled for around 2012, reports said. The plan for the third phase, scheduled for around 2017, was for another rover to land on the lunar surface and collect samples before returning to Earth.'"
Funny how all empires fall.
How did the US get to be such a disgrace?
Oh. Thats how
"We've analyzed rock samples on the planet Mars and found that, in fact, its red color is not from iron oxide, but from pure revolutionary glory- praise the people's republic!"
+5, Truth
They're going to counterfeit it! It's China's first step. Take a bunch of pictures and measure every detail of the prototype.... Next thing you know, the "ghost shift" working night hours at the "legitimate by day" factory will begin production of cloned moons!
As long as they don't try to land on Europa, I think we'll be all right.