The New Space Race
SpaceExploration Monday, March 3, 2003 . This is a SciScoop post by Drog
At a national civil aerospace working conference held last weekend, Luan Enjie, director of the China National Space Administration, announced that China will finish the first phase of the Chang’e Programme (named after the Chinese legend of a young fairy who flies to the moon), which is awaiting government approval, by 2010. After years of feasibility studies, Chinese scientists have worked out a lunar probe program consisting of three phases–orbiting, landing and returning from the moon with lunar soil and rock samples.
In the first phase, China will send a lunar orbiter spacecraft to obtain 3D image maps of the lunar surface. This phase will also analyze the content and distribution of useful elements on the moon’s surface, measure the density of lunar soil and explore the lunar space environment. The subsequent two phases will see wheeled robotic explorers rolling along on the moon, collecting lunar soil for research.
One has to wonder what the unofficial U.S. response to this will be. Will the U.S. government stand idly by while China embarks on a grand endeavour to set up an actual mining station on the moon, or will they start throwing enormous sums of money NASA’s way in an effort to one-up communist China, just as the U.S.S.R.’s launch of Sputnik spurred the U.S. to commit to landing a man on the moon?
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6 Responses to The New Space Race
Alan Von Fan
March 3rd, 2003 at 6:30 pm
I don’t much care if it’s the Chinese or the Welsh going back to the moon, as long as somebody is going. Hooray! Oh, I’m sure people will raise questions of ideology and the usual line of B.S. that always crops up when another country is perceived as grabbing a prize that everyone wants but is too lazy to get; but in a thousand years who will care? The important thing is to get humanity out there, time will take care of smoothing out the politics. And if the U.S. or the Russians, or anyone else, decide to enter into competition great, all the more chance that one of them will succeed in setting up a permanent base on the moon. The goal here is to impregnate the solar sytem (and ultimately the rest of the universe that isn’t already populated with li’l green guys) with Earth’s seed, and I don’t care who the father is as long as the baby is born healthy.
unimatrix
March 4th, 2003 at 2:09 am
since the beginning of space exploration there was competition……. USSR vs USA…… and all these political games made humanity to place a man on the moon, not carring what the costs were!
conclusion: competition leads to development and will.
when the USSR broke down: no more competion, and so, the USA stoped moon exploration.
and FINALLY sumone saied “WE R GOING TO BUILD A COLONY ON THE MOON!”, it was about time this happened…… finally sum competition!:)
we are on the right track again:)
apsmith
March 4th, 2003 at 8:43 am
Right now, with the public in a fearful mood (fed by our government and media, more than reality, it seems even to me here in NY) I would be very surprised if more money for space suddenly materializes. The Chinese have been talking about this for several years now, although this is the most concrete plan I’ve seen. When they actually follow through and achieve what they’re talking about, we might have some reaction – if we have any sort of economy left to react with!
But as a citizen of the world, I’m very excited about China’s plans – more power to them! I wonder if their space program has any openings for foreigners?
In the meantime, it’s back to “write to Congress” mode – right now, with the shuttles grounded, the US has no way to launch human beings even into low Earth orbit. That is a very sorry state of affairs, and a sign of far too much neglect of space policy in recent decades, when it has been treated simply as a pork program for our southern states rather than part of a larger vision!
Anonymous
March 5th, 2003 at 3:38 am
Doesn`t that mean we are one step closer to sell out moon if no one big country claims it as they property? :)
Alan Von Fan
March 5th, 2003 at 4:29 am
The moon is already for sale! Several sites offer you a chance to own a cit of extra-terrestrial real estate. Interested? Check out moonshop or moonestates and see what they have to say for themselves. Personally I am highly suspicious of the whole thing, although I enjoyed the FAQ pages, but make up your own mind. Just don’t be too surprised if whichever government(s) eventually claim Lunar rights don’t acknowledge yours.
Anonymous
November 3rd, 2004 at 7:33 am
I can not wait to See what the future holds.