China's Space Program News Thread

[DPRKPTboat]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

they have a long list of goes. I think if you google up china moon, you might find the articles that listed them. Your original estimate of 2030 is probably right had they just went alone. I'm guessing they are getting a lot of help from the Russians and that really does speed up the process. In many way, since the Russians themselves never landed on the move, we can look at the first China landing as the first "Eastern bloc" landing in a way.

In 2002, China denied that they had any plans to make a manned landing on the moon. But, according to the article I posted about the Chenghe (if anyone bothered to look at it) the probe after that, Chenghe 2, will make a soft landing on the moon, so it said. But realistically, I don't see China beating the U.S. to the moon any time soon. They just don't have a rocket powerful enough at the moment, and even if they were developing one, it would take years to conceive - if it was rushed, then it would end up like the Soviet N-1 booster did. And China certainly doesn't want that. The U.S., on the other hand, already has a design for its moon mission, and has openly shown it. China has so far not shown any plans or concepts for such a mission.
But, it is possible that China doesn't really care about competition and may land on the moon after America does nontheless. But by the time they do, the U.S. will probably be planning a mission to mars.

 

[tphuang]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

more space news.

By Bradley Cook
Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Russia and China will sign an
accord to jointly explore the Moon, RIA Novosti reported, citing
Russian Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov.
The agreement will be signed as early as this year,
Perminov told the official Russian news service. China is also
planning to join a Russian project to explore Phobos and bring
soil from that Martian moon back to Earth, RIA said.
China, Russia and the U.S. are the only countries
``intensively'' exploring space at the moment, Perminov said,
according to the news service. In 2003 China became the third
country to put a man into space aboard its own rocket, after
Russia and the U.S.

 

[Vlad Plasmius]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

China is being pretty ambitious, though. They're conducting far fewer in-space missions so achieving a manned-moon landing as only the second country to do so and doing so with far less preparation would be pretty important.

 

[eric chu]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

Ｉthink　Ｃhina　has　been　developing an independent space technology,peacefully and efficiently,American should abandon hostile attitude towards china,admiting China joining in the programme of the international space station,China should cooperate with America flying to moon,Ithink it is good for the peace of the whole world

 

[sumdud]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

???
Going to the Moon is of no physical value, yes. But if that is so, why did America go to the Moon? Why did the USSR try? It's a trumph to do so. It is for spirit, for honor. It also helps in practicing for missions farther out.

 

[Vlad Plasmius]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

What do they have to gain out of it?

*cough* Helium 3 *cough*

 

[DPRKPTboat]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

If China is going to gain Helium 3, then it will probably have to find land on the moon where it can build its own moonbase to mine it, seperate from the American moonbase that may have already been established by time it does. Then that will mean that different parts of the moon will be controlled by America, China, and maybe Russia, each with their own colonies. It would be like the European colonisation of America when it was first discovered.

 

[Deleted member 675]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

I don't believe China, or any other country, can mine resources from celestial bodies unilaterally. UN regulations specify that the ownership and use of "space" (both celestial bodies and the bits in between) has to be for the benefit for all countries. That indicates that anything mined/whatever would have to be divied up.

If a country like the US or China started sucking the moon dry of resources and took them back home to use there, it would cause massive political tension across the world - potentially leading to another world war.

So China should consider what the real benefits of going to the Moon are. At the moment I think the calls/rumours for a manned-mission are a bit of flag-waving, much-like the American plan to go back (because the Chinese can't go before the US goes again). What I would much prefer to see is more international co-operation to design new spacecraft and means of propulsion. Competition can spark change, but it can also force people losing sight of the bigger picture by engaging in pointless races and missing opportunities to make real advancements.

 

[Vlad Plasmius]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

I don't believe China, or any other country, can mine resources from celestial bodies unilaterally. UN regulations specify that the ownership and use of "space" (both celestial bodies and the bits in between) has to be for the benefit for all countries. That indicates that anything mined/whatever would have to be divied up.

Ha. Who's going to stop them? Really, we in the U.S. have already shown a pretty blatant disregard of the U.N.'s resolutions and regulations. China and Russia are no different. Has anyone come out and called us on it in any real way? Nope.

Not to mention there are ways for them to pursue unilateral actions and still find a way of making it "for the benefit of all". Just get a few of their legal experts together so they can find themselves a nice little loophole.

If a country like the US or China started sucking the moon dry of resources and took them back home to use there, it would cause massive political tension across the world - potentially leading to another world war.

Well, then these powerful countries with their global navies and superior air forces will just cut the oil spigot off from anyone still using it and objecting to any of them not sharing the love. "Sorry, you want Helium 3 you have to go get it yourself."

Global cooperation is a pipe dream.

 

[Deleted member 675]

Re: When will China go to the moon?

Ha. Who's going to stop them? Really, we in the U.S. have already shown a pretty blatant disregard of the U.N.'s resolutions and regulations. China and Russia are no different. Has anyone come out and called us on it in any real way? Nope.

No violation of UN law by a permanent member of the UNSC has been of as great as importance as the mining of resources in our Solar System. People won't do much about a country like Iraq being attacked, but they will over future means to sustain their own survival.

Well, then these powerful countries with their global navies and superior air forces will just cut the oil spigot off from anyone still using it and objecting to any of them not sharing the love.

Who's to say all three players will get there at the same time? It's much more realistic that a single power like the US will get there first and start operations. Then the others would start screaming and banging on the table like there was no tomorrow.

Besides, do you really think they'd work together to screw over everyone else? No way. They'd back their own allies against the others.

Global cooperation is a pipe dream.

Then humanity won't survive long, because without co-operation it will rip itself apart in the coming decades/centuries. Anyone who survived would have a pretty miserable existence. Perhaps the future would be brighter if people actively encouraged humanity working together, rather than just make jaded comments......