China Chang'e unmanned moon lander launch 'by year-end'

[frigidmagi]

BBC

China plans to send an unmanned space probe to the moon this year for the country's first lunar landing.

State media said preparations were now under way for the launch of Chang'e-3, the latest stage in its efforts to put a person on the moon.

The craft will use a radio-controlled rover to transmit images and dig into the moon's surface to test samples.

In June, three Chinese astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked their craft with an experimental space laboratory.

According to Chinese legend, Chang'e is the name of a woman who lives in a palace on the moon.

"Chang'e-3 has officially entered its launch implementation stage following its research and construction period," said a statement released by the administration after a meeting on Wednesday about the mission, the state news agency Xinhua reported.

The Chang'e-3 and another lander will remain on the moon's surface, although China plans to follow those with landers that will return to Earth with samples, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Parallel programmes
China would need experts from its lunar exploration programme and its separate human spaceflight programme to work together on a possible crewed lunar mission.

Attention has focussed recently on China putting humans in space. Two missions have been made to work on the Tiangong-1 experimental space station.

Launched in 2011, the station is due to be replaced by a three-module permanent station, Tiangong-2, in seven years' time.

China sent its first astronaut into space in 2003, becoming the third country after Russia and the United States to achieve manned space travel independently. The military-backed space programme is a source of national pride.

When they pull it off they will have my honest and sincere congratulations.

[Josh]

Fuck yes. Go China!

[rhoenix]

I offer China my congratulations, for what they're worth. This is indeed a national achievement they full well should be proud of, if they pull this off.

[LadyTevar]

Somehow I doubt this will set off any reciprical space launches for the US :(

[rhoenix]

Somehow I doubt this will set off any reciprical space launches for the US :(

True. But that might begin to change pretty fast if China subsequently announces more ambitious missions. Like... sending a manned mission to Mars, for one.

[Josh]

In terms of national pride and so on, we're still doing most of the heavy lifting vis a vis space research and development. But overall my main concern is that shit gets done, and whoever is getting us into space should be encouraged in the doing. This is about the future of the human race here, and it's vital labor.