China Has Big Plans to Explore the Moon and Mars

[Derek V]

Source: Space.com

December 03, 2014 05:17am ET

The Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG), an assembly of experts convened by NASA to assist in planning the scientific exploration of the moon, is eyeing China's growing lunar exploration capacity.

"China has had a well developed, focused plan, and they are using incremental steps to lunar exploration," said Jeffrey Plescia, chairman of LEAG. "Each mission has achieved the primary goal — orbiters, landing, rovers — leading up to sample return and then on to humans."

The objective of the recent test of the lunar sample return capsule was to demonstrate gear that can return from the moon and land safely.

"I would guess that, given the pieces they have tested, that they have a high probability of success on the sample return," Plescia told Space.com. "My personal guess, though, is that their lunar exploration, while trying to do some science, is more focused on the geopolitical theater. They are demonstrating that they have the technical capability of doing the most sophisticated deep-space activities. They have a program, and they can keep to the schedule and accomplish mission goals on time." [See photos from China's 1st moon lander and rover]

In comparison, Plescia said, "the United States has been floundering around for decades, trying to figure out what to do."

Read more: http://www.space.com/27893-china-space-program-moon-mars.html

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Hey, maybe they'll hire some of us as janitors!

[Archae]

1. Well, they did beat us to Europa...

But had a disaster with the native lifeforms.

(SF geek moment!)

[Derek V]

2. A 55-year-old geek, at that!

My sincere congrats! "But I do have a question," said the 49-year-old young stud to the wizened 55-year-old. "I know you just turned 55, but can you drive it?"

[jtuck004]

3. I can hear it now... "We Were #1. We Were #1." as we thus prove, beyond

a shadow, what it means to be great in America today.

[Derek V]

4. We WERE Number One

Not any more. And that, my friend, sucks!

[bluedigger]

5. Remember; in Space, no one can hear you sweep.

[Snow Leopard]

6. yeah the US has been floundering

manning space stations, landing rovers on Mars, landing on moving asteroids. <rolleyes>


Maybe the Chinese can dust off Old Glory when they finally get there, take a selfie with it.

[former9thward]

7. It was the EU that landed on the comet.

Not the U.S. And we only partially man the space station because the Russians send our people up there. We can't.

[Snow Leopard]

10. I stand corrected

But still, we landed on the moon decades ago, spend about 18 billion on nasa iirc, so I think we are ok

[Art_from_Ark]

17. Still, it seems that Nasa is going to be busy for the foreseeable future

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Solar_System_probes

[DavidDvorkin]

8. We are indeed floundering, in two very important ways

First, we failed to follow up on the Apollo project. We got to the moon first, with a lot of other firsts along the way, and then we didn't build on that magnificent achievement.

Second, we don't have a long-range, solid, detailed plan for a sound, continuing, expanding space program. That's exactly what China does appear to have.

[Baclava]

9. Low earth orbit is one thing - getting humans out farther demands heavy lift rockets

Rise of the Mega Rockets

A new generation of space rockets ready to lift new and exciting payloads spaceward is coming to a sky near you.

Tomorrow, a Delta IV Heavy rocket will boost the Orion space capsule on a two orbit journey around the Earth that will test key systems. And though tomorrow’s launch is uncrewed, the Orion Command Module will one day form the core of NASA’s Orion MPCV Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and is slated to care out humanity’s first mission to an asteroid and beyond in the next decade.

But a second, lesser known launch also leaves Earth tomorrow as well, atop a rocket that will soon give way to a new generation of lift boosters as launch services vie for new customers. Just over eight hours after the launch of EFT-1, an Ariane 5 rocket lifts off from French Guiana with GSAT-16.



http://www.universetoday.com/116943/rise-of-the-mega-rockets-comparing-heavy-lift-launch-systems/#more-116943

[DavidDvorkin]

11. Or assembly in orbit

In the longer run, that will probably be the way it's done.

[Baclava]

12. Let's face it - if we want space to be profitable we need to mine the asteroids

Not just for mineral wealth but for water....Mars is a worthy goal, but low gravity bodies are much easier to land on

Asteroid colonies can be our spaceships to the stars - they got the water and rock to tunnel into for radiation protection for deep spaceflight

[Ghost Dog]

14. Absolutely

There would need to be suffiecient resources to provide nutrients & energy too.

[Sancho]

13. Cool...a new space race!

Lots better than spending money dropping bombs on a dessert.

[Mugu]

16. Why would anybody drop a bomb on a dessert? n/t

 
 

[Art_from_Ark]

18. Maybe they were mad that the souffle didn't puff up properly

[Derek V]

19. BREAKING: American Drone Strike Destroys Banana Split

I tried, I really tried to resist the Dark Side, but, sadly, I could not.

[chrisa]

20. Maybe it's a terror-misu

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. They spend all the money on space yet they have so many poor people

just like the USA I suppose?