A long way to the moon for China

A long way to the moon for China

China's hopes to send a man on moon may not turn into a reality in the near future but plans to send an unmanned spacecraft round the moon are underway.

As a major milestone in its 'round the moon' project, China has assembled its lunar orbiter and rocket. The spacecraft scheduled to be launched in the year 2007, will be a major headway in China's Lunar Exploration Program. According to a report by the official News Agency Xinhua, “Our technical staff has solved many crucial technical problems by attacking technological focal points, assembling systems and conducting a range of experiments”.

However, a manned mission to moon is still a distant dream for China. “Sending a man to the moon? It would be a one-way ticket if we do it now, given the thrust of our rockets at present is not strong enough,” quipped Luan Enjie, commander-in-chief of China's Lunar Exploration Program. But China does plan to send 'taikonauts', (Mandarin for astronauts) to the earth's only natural satellite by 2020. Mr. Enjie expressed his hopes that China will build more robust rockets very soon. He welcomed International Cooperation in China's Space Program. He was addressing the press at the end of a conference for the leaders of the lunar program.

China's Space Program achieved a major success in the year 2003, when it sent a man into space for the first time. In another breakthrough, it sent two men into orbit for five days in October 2005. Preparations for the Lunar Exploration Program began in early 2004.

The 'round the moon' project will be using the well-tested space technology used in the space missions. The orbiter will be derived from China's Dongfanghong III satellite platform and its launcher from Long March 3-A rocket.