China Successfully Launches Second Moon Probe

China launched its second unmanned Moon mission on Friday, sending the Chang'e II probe on a five-day journey to reach lunar orbit. "The probe plans to test technology in preparation for an unmanned moon landing in 2012, with a possible manned lunar mission to follow in 2017. China's other space plans include the launch of the first module of a future space station next year followed by the dispatch of manned spacecraft to dock with it. ... After its six-month mission, Chang'e II will either land on the moon as an experiment for future probes, fly further into outer space, or change its course and begin orbiting the Earth, Xinhua cited chief designer Huang Jiangchuan as saying." The Planetary Society blog has pictures and video of the launch.

Comments

"Chinese" is a nationality, not a race.

[Anonymous Coward]

"Chinese" is a nationality. It is not a race. There are people of many races who are Chinese.

Racism can't arise when we aren't dealing with a race!

Re:"Chinese" is a nationality, not a race.

[shutdown -p now]

"Jew" is not a race either. Historically, the term "racist" had a broader and somewhat incorrect meaning, but this is English we're talking about, not Lojban.

Re:Manned lunar mission?

[GodWasAnAlien]

The article below, while saying China is pulling away from India, still lists china as only getting a moon rock sample in 2017. That is an unmanned mission. China has pledged to put a man on the moon by 2025.
But I suspect China and India are racing for 2020.

http://www.peopleforum.cn/viewthread.php?tid=40438

I think China is on schedule:

http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1653384&cid=32219866

Chang'e 2 - 2010, second lunar orbiter
Chang'e 3 - 2013, lunar lander
Chang'e 4 - 2017, return lunar sample to earth
Chang'e 5 - 2020-2025 - manned mission

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Lunar_Exploration_Program

Re:Manned lunar mission?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, it seems the manned mission is 2020. Articles refer to China state media.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/195665/china-to-launch-next-lunar-space-mission
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/3747/moist-moon-hinders-chinas-lunar-telescope
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100910/sc_afp/chinaspacemoon

It's questionable whether that is a landing mission or whether the landing missing is 2025.

Re:that's great

[WindBourne]

It has already happened. The USA sent a number of men to the moon. And they regularly share not just the experience, but we brought back so much rock, that we have shared some with just about every nation on this planet. In addition, you can pick up a DVD of it. Heck, new footage was just released in Australia and will be coming here soon.