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

Manned lunar mission?

[MichaelSmith]

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.

Re:Manned lunar mission?

[QuantumG]

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.

Re:Manned lunar mission?

[wiredlogic]

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.

leaping ahead

[sohp]

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!

[RyanFenton]

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

Congratulation

[Taco Cowboy]

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.

Second moon probe?

[Anonymous Coward]

They finished probing the first moon already?

Second moon ?

[rossdee]

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!

[arcite]

Never mind half their population live on $1 a day!

Re:that's great

[interactive_civilian]

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.