Lunar Dragon
So it looks like China is looking to land a man on the moon in 2017. This is interesting for several reasons--the least of which isn't that NASA plans to return Americans to the moon in 2018. At this point in the game, the Chinese propaganda machine is far more capable than their manned space program. To the Chinese's credit, they have become only the third nation in the history of mankind to launch men into space. But to go from only two manned flights to landing a man on the moon (and presumably returning him safely to the earth) in only 12 years requires a tremendous amount of resources--resources I'd be surprised to see China muster given various socio-economic factors within its borders.
Also of interest are their various pretexts. I don't doubt that China would be pleased to know more about the lunar atmosphere and the applicability of Helium 3. But make no mistake, a lunar mission--like the rest of their space program--would be about about global prestige.
Also of interest are their various pretexts. I don't doubt that China would be pleased to know more about the lunar atmosphere and the applicability of Helium 3. But make no mistake, a lunar mission--like the rest of their space program--would be about about global prestige.
1 Comments:
The saddest thing here is the way that CNN jumped on this story.
The paper is a minor publication, and the person quoted is not even involved in the nation's manned spaceflight story.
U.S. media jumping all over the official Chinese PR hype instead of looking at the reality of the situation is sad, but a reputable outlet like CNN jumping on some guy in some paper saying something so ridiculous that even the state hype machine would be embarrased to say it is just beyond pathetic.
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