China's First Lunar Lander To Launch Today; Manned Mission Planned By 2030

c0lo writes "A Chinese Long March rocket is scheduled to blast off to the Moon on Sunday evening at about 6pm UTC carrying a small robotic rover that will touch down on to the lunar surface in about two weeks' time – the first soft landing on the Earth's only natural satellite since 1976. China has been methodically and patiently building up the key elements needed for an advanced space programme — from launchers to manned missions in Earth orbit to unmanned planetary craft — and it is investing heavily. After only 10 years since it independently sent its first astronaut into space, China is forging ahead with a bold three-step programme beginning with the robotic exploration of possible landing sites for the first Chinese astronauts to set foot on lunar soil between 2025 and 2030. Prof Ouyang Ziyuan of the department of lunar and deep space exploration and an adviser to the mission commented to the BBC on the scale of Chinese thinking about the Moon. He said the forthcoming venture would land in an ancient crater 400km wide called Sinus Iridum, thought to be relatively flat and clear of rocks, and explore its geology. China.org.cn promised live coverage of the event."

Comments

Re:I am afraid tech lines are being narrowed...

[Gravis Zero]

The [dividing] line between us and those other nations is surely being narrowed. After the Chinese shot down a satellite in 2007, I knew it was just a matter of time.

a) who cares?
b) we already cooperate with those we used to call enemies (like russia) and we made an international space station.
c) considering the average quality of life in china, i think we are several decades ahead.
d) china steals all their technology, we invent it.