A report in today's New York Times reads between the lines of President Bush's State of the Union address and perceives an outreached hand to China in the area of space exploration. Interesting idea since China is making significant strides in space right now. I don't want their flag on the Moon without ours right beside it.
In all, China plans to launch 10 satellites this year, and a total of 30 by 2005; it currently has 16 in orbit. The satellites have scientific, commercial and military applications.Posted by Alan at January 22, 2004 09:57 PMMore bold are China's plans to build on the success of last year's Shenzhou 5 space orbit, and eventually to land on the Moon. Officials say next year's Shenzhou 6 mission is expected to carry two astronauts on a five- to seven-day space journey.
Efforts to reach the Moon are beginning in earnest this year, and some experts in the United States speak ominously of a "Red Moon" — the possibility that China might one day launch military astronauts into space with the aim of setting up a Communist lunar base.
Last March, Luan Enjie, director of the China National Aerospace Administration, described the Moon as "the focal point wherein future aerospace powers contend for strategic resources."
But Mr. Luan and other Chinese officials say China's lunar ambitions are wholly peaceful. Mr. Luan suggested that one of China's primary motivations for reaching the Moon was possible economic exploitation. He told People's Daily, the Communist Party's official newspaper, that China was also interested in developing lunar energy resources, like helium-3, a rare form of the element that scientists say could power advanced reactors on Earth.
In an interview this week, Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist for China's Moon program, said the program was part of China's larger efforts to become a leader in space.