Lunar Chinese Satellite In 2007
(Hat Tip: Out of the Cradle)
One small step for China, one giant leap for Asia kind.
(Xinhaua) China is scheduled to send its first satellite to the moon in April 2007 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, in a one-year lunar mission dubbed Chang’e Project.
Apart from the moon exploration project, China also plans to launch four satellites by the end of this year. These include “Xinnuo 2,” a large-capacity satellite for communications. Two others are for scientific research and one for weather forecasting.
Many people have debated on whether or not the Chinese have it within their budget to even reach the moon, comparing its respective economy against the US and Russia.
Whether they have the economy or not is uncertain–what is known however is that China is determined to establish itself as a space power, as their intentions are not to merely scan the lunar surface, but to conquer it.
