China Aims To Launch Moon Probe This Year

DRAGON SPACE

China's Chang'e I.

by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) May 20, 2007
China aims to launch its first lunar orbiter later this year, part of a three-step plan it hopes will eventually see moon samples brought back to Earth, state media said Sunday. The launch of the Chang'e I, envisaged in the second half of 2007, would be a landmark for China's space programme, China's space agency chief Sun Laiyan was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

"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," he said in the report.

Sun, speaking at Beijing Jiaotong University, said China's lunar exploration programme was divided into three phases: orbiting the moon, landing on the lunar surface and coming back to Earth with samples.

The orbiter represented the first phase, with a moon rover to be used in the second phase scheduled for around 2012, Xinhua said.

The plan for the third phase was for another rover to land on the lunar surface and collect samples before returning to Earth, said Sun, who is the head of the China National Space Administration.

China would continue to research manned space missions, including a space walk and experiments to link passing spacecraft, he said.

"Space technology reflects a nation's overall power and is an important facet of the modernisation of national defence," he said.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Email This Article

DRAGON SPACE

China Approves Five-Year Space Development plan

Beijing (Xinhua) May 14, 2007
China's State Council, or the cabinet, approved the country's 11th five-year plan on space development, in principle, at a conference on Thursday last week. Addressing the conference, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan stressed that the 11th five-year period (2006-2010) is key to China's space development.

ENERGY TECH Live Earth's Hot Air, Burn Oil Instead Energy Efficient Desalination Takes A Step Forward Wave Power Tipped As Holy Grail For Australia Biorefineries To Transform Traditional Forestry Sector	CIVIL NUCLEAR Iran Building First Indigenous Nuclear Plant US And Algeria To Sign Nuke Deal Indian PM Hopeful For US Nuclear Deal Russia And Kazakhstan Join Forces In The Nuclear Sector
BLUE SKY Widespread Twilight Zone Detected Around Clouds Rand Says Further Study Warranted On Save The World Air Technology Noxious Lightning AIM Heads For Orbit	WOOD PILE Indonesia's Crackdown On Illegal Logging Under Fire Brazil Demonstrating That Reducing Tropical Deforestation Is Key WinWin Global Warming Solution Global Scientists Urge Canada To Save Boreal Forest "Reducing Emissions From Deforestation" Initiative Launched
FARM NEWS Journal Details How Global Warming Will Affect The World's Fisheries Spud Origin Controversy Solved Decimation Of Bee Colonies Has Various Possible Causes Asia Fears Chinese Greens	CAR TECH Toyota Launches New Luxury Hybrid The Driving Force Behind Electric Vehicles Radical Engine Redesign Would Reduce Pollution And Oil Consumption Intelligent Cars As Fuel-Efficient As Hybrids
AEROSPACE Australia Fears Jet Flight Guilt Could Hit Tourism Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying New FAA Oceanic Air Traffic System Designed By Lockheed Martin Fully Operational NASA Seeks New Research Proposals	NUCLEAR SPACE Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement