SCI/TECH: China to Moon in 2007

China is planning to send a two-ton rover to the surface of the moon to collect rock data. After being lauched in 2007, it would not be until 2012 that it will send the rover to the moon's surfaqce. They then hope to collect these rock samples by 2017. Obtaining this data will help prepare a manned mission to the moon by China.



It's about time someone decided to study the moon up-close again. Hopefully China really does send astronauts to the moon after their rover mission is over. I'm assuming we could get a much better video feed now than they did back in 1969. Hopefully, after the war is over, the US will either focus on a manned mission to the moon or mars.

Well that would be a great effort China to the moon. But let's all get to 2007 safely first - yes?

Dallas

Nice... good for china, but i can see a arms race coming up... that is a good thing, about time we need a arch enemy like back in the soviet days.

Kudos to China...perhaps this is just what we need to get off our collective butts, another space race. U.S. to Mars by 2020!!!

I think a Space Race is what we need to really kick it into gear with our own Astronauts. I almost want to join the AF just so I can Hope to be one of the lucky astronauts to be selected for a Mars mission or something. If China does spark a race, Then THANK YOU!

Is it me or does China's time frame seem pessimistic? They aren't innovating they're just developing infrasrtucture and experience(Important as well but still nothing groundbreaking)

All I'm saying is China has a long way to go in order to compete head to head with the USA, Russia or even the ESA.(yes I know ESA havn't launched anyone into orbit yet but technologically they are superior then China)

This could put a bee up India's and Brazil's butt as they have been vying for position in the growing Space Industry. I don't see this starting a Space Race 2.0 between US and China, but a China vs. India vs. Brazil could be just as exciting.

In 15-20 years Private industry in space will be where the innovation will take place IMHO.

Yes, while that is true, at least they are trying to do saomething. We just have a Goal to do it. And the way we are being all cautious, it looks like it would take just as long for us to do what they are doing.

Well I hope they've all ready started, because I don't think 2007 is giving them enough time.

However I want another space race, the progress we made under the original was incredible. Just think if we could get Russia back into the game too. Oh how I'd love to see NASA given the funding to show what the US can really do.

I agree we need another "Space Race" To wake us up.

This is exactly what I wanted to happen. I'm glad to know somebody other than America takes space explortion seriously!!!

I agree with you all, a new space race is needed. It'll bring out the best in everyone involved.

Hopefully with a Big Space race, including at least China, Russia, and the USA will result in a massive onslaught of the unknown. With three big powers like this focusing on Space, we could amass 3 times the knowledge we would originally if it was just the US. Plus, each country is going to want to out-do the others, so we should discover some interesting things.

I think this is great. There's nothing like a new perspective on the moon.
The mission sounds like it's looking for something... to bring back - besides rock - maybe Helium 3? It'd be worth a fortune to the big-physics crowd. I was looking for but I have yet to find the landing site.
I hope it's near any one of the fabled Clementine anomalies - especially the rectangle that's 25Km on a side or The Tower.
The mission timeline sounds a little long unless they need the surface time for something.
Can't find the payload mass either. 'Wish I understood Chinese.
Too bad we'll be unlikely to follow events as closely as we might like.
But still, I wish the Shenzhou manned mission for this fall would be televised and accessible too... plenty 'nuff happenin' in Earh orbit.
Who knows - maybe a "Martyn Stubbs" or an "LL WILLIE" will happen and the data will be outted.
China is really to be congratulated - now at least more jobs won't be lost in NA aerospace - America can never allow itself to be outdone in any way - ever. I can hear the RFP's being written for new hardware.
I wonder how NASA's Vision-thing report from Griffin will be modded to account for this development - I'm thinkin' a bigger better smarter more expensive NASA is coming. I'm a fan of stonger lighter faster cheaper myself.
Exciting and challenging times - like Apollo almost.

Perhaps China wishes to analyze rock samples in order to figure out composition and decide how they could possibly build infrastructure on the moon. If we could have an administration that doesnt have its head up its ass, maybe China and U.S. could work together to create a permanent moon colony eh? Why race against each other when you can share information an work together?

I really do not understand what everyones obsession is with having enemies and fighting against the world.

While working together would be the ideal thing to happen, the competition is what makes faster and more progress.

Ummm. sorry to disappoint you guys out, but he space race is more between India and China for the moon rather than China and the US, if there's any space race at all..

India's also got a lunar orbital mission planned for around the same time frame..

www.chandrayaan-1.com...
www.isro.org...

China's sending people to the moon..hmmm.. I don't know.. IMO they're much more interested in manned weaponisation of earth orbital space..
They have a manned (crew of 2) launch planned for october 05'..

Working together doesn't seem to get us anywhere fast. I mean look at the ISS in comparison to what the US and USSR were pulling out of their sleeves back in the space race. As much as I'd like to work together, it's more practical to race eachother.

Otherwise we've got no motivation. Almost all of mankinds greatest achievments and advances were from competition of some sort.

Originally posted by cyberdude78
Working together doesn't seem to get us anywhere fast. I mean look at the ISS in comparison to what the US and USSR were pulling out of their sleeves back in the space race. As much as I'd like to work together, it's more practical to race eachother.

Otherwise we've got no motivation. Almost all of mankinds greatest achievments and advances were from competition of some sort.

Just exactly what I was talking about. The Space race never caused any harm back in the day, so i see none being done now. We won't progress anywhere near as fast if we worked together. It's that motivation to do something bigger and better that pushes space exploration to the limits.

There is of course one other way. And it goes something like this;

"Look George! Theres oil on that moon!"

lol... I bet we'd be up there next week if we said that. God knows we need it right now too. But hey, if it gets him motivated enough to do it... then why not?

But if, China, Brazil, India all make a big push and begin to gain groun on America won't they in turn begin to push also?