China’s lunar probe construction begins
Mark Trulson / 7:24 pm January 9th, 2006
The Chinese lunar probe Chang’e I and its launch vehicle are now under construction. This announcement came at a press briefing by Jin Zhuanglong, spokesman for State Commission of Space, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
Initial plans announced in March of 2004 spoke of the construction of the various pieces of the project being completed in October 2006, with a launch in December of that same year. The schedule has slipped some with the launch now expected to take place in April of 2007.
In July of 2004 Chinese aerospace magazine ‘Hangkong Zhishi’ provided more details of China’s lunar exploration program, including a three-step plan.
“According to the report, the first stage is a moon orbiting mission by 2007, using the DFH-3 satellite platform. The lunar orbiter will map the moon surface in three dimensions, analyze the content and distribution of useful elements on the lunar surface, measure the density of lunar soil, and monitor the near-moon space environment. During the second stage, an unmanned moon rover will make a soft landing on the moon surface and examine the moon soil. In the third stage, an unmanned probe will be sent to the moon and collect samples of the moon soil, and then return them to earth.”
Of course this was followed by the usual comments of;
A senior official of China’s space programme claimed that once the project is completed, China may consider to send human to the moon, or even build a moon base with international co-operations.
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Any guesses of who that “Senior Official” might be?
There has been much debate, (some of it quite heated), on China’s lunar goals and ability to carry them out. Either way, it looks like the first steps are underway.