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China Sets Sights on Comprehensive Lunar Survey

Posted by Zonk on from the space-race-version-two dept.

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.'"

8 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. I hope they make it! by KingSkippus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm not jealous. Unlike the U.S., which I honestly believe is no longer capable of carrying out a project like this (hell, we can barely keep our 26-year-old space shuttle program afloat), I hope China has a real shot at making headway in the exploration of space.

    Just because we can't do it doesn't mean that I hope it won't be done. If they can make progress where we can't, all the better!

  2. Land claim by dpilot · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So is anyone going to make a stink when China claims the Moon for themselves?

    I know there is a treaty prohibiting this, though I don't know if China is signatory, and I don't know if they care, or if they'll find a way out of it.

    But it appears that the general way if the future is: China does what China wants.

    --
    The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    1. Re:Land claim by stoolpigeon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's no need to 'claim' it. If any nation or group can get there, and owns the only facilities that support human life there - they don't need to claim it, they own it until someone else develops the same capability. That's the reality of it, treaties and such are nonsense in this regard.

      --
      It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  3. The crumbling empire by PhreakOfTime · · Score: 3, Funny

    Funny how all empires fall.

    How did the US get to be such a disgrace?

    Oh. Thats how

  4. LRO by everphilski · · Score: 5, Informative

    Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter launches in 2008. And NASA's mapped the moon before. Like Clementine (SDI/NASA).

  5. Obligatory by bigattichouse · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Obligatory Heinlein reference "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"
    To paraphrase: When you run out of room, there's always the moon.

    --
    meh
  6. Re:Why? by King_TJ · · Score: 3, Funny

    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!

  7. Re:mars by evanbd · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm going to guess Elon Musk (of SpaceX). They have yet to make orbit, but test flight #2 was very, very close -- and it's obvious they know what to fix. They already have a heavier launcher and manned capsule well under way, with NASA contracts to demonstrate ISS flights.

    A reporter once asked Elon whether he was creating SpaceX just so he could get a ride to orbit. He answered that if that was all he wanted, a ride on a Russian rocket would be cheaper. What the reporter didn't ask was whether he was trying to get a ride to Mars -- and creating SpaceX is probably the cheapest way to do that.