China Successfully Launches Second Moon Probe

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China Successfully Launches Second Moon Probe

Posted by Soulskill on Friday October 1, 2010 @09:56PM from the space-race-redux dept.

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.

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Manned lunar mission? by MichaelSmith · 2010-10-01 22:02 · Score: 4, Insightful

manned lunar mission doesn't have to mean a landing. It could just be their normal orbital vehicle on a figure eight trajectory around the moon.

--
http://michaelsmith.id.au
1. Re:Manned lunar mission? by QuantumG · 2010-10-01 22:09 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Yes, what annoys me is that the US news media keeps talking about China's plans to put humans on the Moon but they never provide any references. It's never "the Minister Of Space said," or some other quote from a respectable source, it's just stated as fact.
  Whenever official Chinese sources are quoted as talking about a human spaceflight program they say their plans are to build their own LEO space station, not lunar missions. As far as I'm aware there has never been any official statement of a human lunar program - and currently they simply don't have the boosters to do it and so far they haven't announced any plans to build launch vehicles capable of taking humans to the Moon.
  There's simply no Asian space race to the Moon, despite how much the US media wants one.
  
  --
  How we know is more important than what we know.
2. Re:Manned lunar mission? by sznupi · 2010-10-01 23:12 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  With perfecting automatic rendezvouz, one doesn't really need large/rarely used/exceedingly expensive (vs. almost assembly-line manufactured, efficient in "kg to LEO per cost", not launch) booster. Also, chief scientist of their lunar exploration program is an outspoken supporter of manned exploration.
  
  --
  One that hath name thou can not otter
3. Re:Manned lunar mission? by wiredlogic · 2010-10-02 00:56 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  While there may be no official word. The fact that they created a copy of the Vehicle Assembly Building indicates that they are prepared to work on lunar capable, Saturn V sized boosters when the need arises.
  
  --
  I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
4. Re:Manned lunar mission? by GodWasAnAlien · 2010-10-02 01:26 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  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
leaping ahead by sohp · 2010-10-01 22:11 · Score: 4, Insightful

Thanks to self-interested politicians like Utah's Orrin Hatch and others who'd rather fatten up on pork, China has a viable space program, while the US just has a money sink that keeps corporations flush in fat lobbying budgets.
Good for them! by RyanFenton · 2010-10-01 22:12 · Score: 4, Insightful

I love it when any nation does ambitious explorations like this, to progress and promote their general state of science and technology.
I just hope they release any findings freely - I do dislike the idea of scientific projects where most of the results end up state/company secrets.
Ryan Fenton
1. Re:Good for them! by TheNucleon · 2010-10-02 05:39 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  "July 1969 A.D. We Came in Peace For All Mankind."
  If Mankind can return during my lifetime, I'll be delighted. I don't particularly care which section of Mankind leads the way - I'll rejoice with them when we venture out again.
  Think what we could accomplish if we all worked together? Maybe someday we could get out of our own back yard.
  
  --
  My comments are my own, and do not represent the views of my employer, my spouse, my children, or my cats.
Pre-emptive posting by Chicken_Kickers · 2010-10-01 22:17 · Score: 2, Insightful
To pre-empt the inevitable sino-phobic scare mongering posters, let me get the shitposts out of the way:
1. OMFG, China is making a lunar land grab.
2. Great job China, you're just 50 years late (smug).
3. We've done this before. Nothing to see here. Move along (more smug).
4. Socialist!
5. Not content with polluting the Earth, China is now throwing junk on the moon.
6. We must stop the expansionist Godless pinko commie heathens.
7. Meh, China's economy is doing too well, so it is bound to crash and their space program will cease.
Anything I missed?
Congratulation by Taco+Cowboy · 2010-10-01 22:26 · Score: 5, Interesting

Before this thread is filled with vile racist posts, let me first congratulate China on the launch of its 2nd moon surveyor, Chang Er 2.
I know that this message will be modded down because a lot of people hate China for some reasons.

--
Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
1. Re:Congratulation by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-01 23:31 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Note that China is a nation, not a race -- is it possible that some China-haters might actually hate China not because OMFG THEY R TEH YELLLOOWWWW!!!, but because of things China has done/continues to do that they find morally repugnant?
2. Re:Congratulation by timeOday · 2010-10-02 02:42 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  is it possible that some China-haters might actually hate China not because OMFG THEY R TEH YELLLOOWWWW!!!, but because of things China has done/continues to do that they find morally repugnant?
  Nope. Xenophobia and righteous indignation are both factors, but not they main ones. If so, there would be just as much angst over less powerful nations where people look and think differently. And also, we wouldn't be discussing China's moon program; we'd be discussing how to use our diplomatic and economic influence to redeem China from their moral failings, which we're not.
  No, mostly China phobia is just naked fear at the rise of an economic and military competitor.
Where's the competition? by zrbyte · 2010-10-01 22:32 · Score: 2, Interesting

Manned mission to the Moon? A new space station? Even if these are just rumors I'm sure it should make the US a bit uneasy. Come on guys I want to see another space race!
1. Re:Where's the competition? by Nyeerrmm · 2010-10-02 05:21 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Considering that its taken NASA 30 years to get over the first one, and we're still recovering, the last thing we need is another one.
  Space races lead to expensive one-off architectures that achieve their goal but are too expensive to be used for much else. NASA needs to learn how to develop flexible systems that can be revised and re-purposed with minimal modifications, short time-frames, and within the historical post-Apollo budget.
  I fear if we got in another space race with China, we'd achieve more flags and footprints, and be saying 'If only it were like the 2010s again' until 2070.
that's great by pinkeen · 2010-10-01 22:46 · Score: 2, Interesting

I'd like to live long enough to see a manned mission to moon or maybe mars. I don't care who does it, as long as they will share the experience with the rest of the world.
1. Re:that's great by WindBourne · 2010-10-02 01:58 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  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.
  
  --
  I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
2. Re:that's great by interactive_civilian · 2010-10-02 04:08 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  It has already happened. The USA sent a number of men to the moon.
  And a great many of us were not alive when this happened. Along with GPP, I'd like to see another man on the Moon. Yes, the United States did it. Yes, we Americans briefly touched greatness. Yes, we took our first baby steps out into the next great frontier and the only real long term future for humanity. And then, like frightened or chastised children, we fled back to the safety of our mother's skirt and have remained there ever since.
  I am not discounting at all the greatness achieved by unmanned exploratory missions. I think they are some of the finest achievements of humankind (We've sent probes out of the solar system!). But, I can't help but feel a thrill that some humans somewhere on the planet are actively working towards once again stepping away from our mother. And I wouldn't be able to help feeling some measure of pride to see that happen again. And I would be even more proud to see humans take further steps out into the solar system.
  And, I couldn't care less if they are speaking Chinese when they do it.
  
  --
  "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
Second moon probe? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-01 23:12 · Score: 4, Funny

They finished probing the first moon already?
Second moon ? by rossdee · 2010-10-01 23:32 · Score: 3, Funny

Is that the one with the likeness of a jumping mouse on? (The Freman call it Muad'dib)
It's Communism WE can BELIEVE in! by arcite · 2010-10-01 23:38 · Score: 3, Insightful

Never mind half their population live on $1 a day!
1. Re:It's Communism WE can BELIEVE in! by uninformedLuddite · 2010-10-02 16:35 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Big bloody deal. There are places on earth where the people's incomes are so low they aren't measurable. They still appear to eat, sleep, clothe themselves and appear happier in general than us poor wage slaves. Plus, if civilisation was to collapse some of them wouldn't even notice.
  
  --
  The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
Re:Congraturation by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-02 00:15 · Score: 2, Funny

You're going to be modded down because it's 'principle', not 'principal', you oaf.
Re:Congraturation by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-02 02:32 · Score: 2, Funny

I'm sober and married. You lucky bastard!
Re:"Chinese" is a nationality, not a race. by Foobar+of+Borg · 2010-10-02 03:04 · Score: 2, Insightful

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

Quite true, but many racists in America use "Chinese" to mean "any o' them thar yellar people."

--
Similar to the upcoming US election results
Exchange rate? by mangu · 2010-10-02 03:51 · Score: 2, Insightful

Never mind half their population live on $1 a day!
True or not, it doesn't matter.
The real question is what does that buy? I know many Americans who make $100 a day and still can't make ends meet.
It hasn't been this exciting since Apollo by purplemecha · 2010-10-02 05:29 · Score: 2, Interesting

Good for China for picking up the slack. As a space addict, I'll get my heroin anywhere I can. It's sad though that we still don't have a true international space agency. I like to fantasize sometimes about all the nations coming together to pool all their resources into a single collective of cooperation. Hmm does that make me a communist.

--
My Web Site
Re:"Chinese" is a nationality, not a race. by shutdown+-p+now · 2010-10-02 06:38 · Score: 2, Informative

"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.