China Launches “Moon Mission” as Nasa Loses Lunar Interest
October 2nd, 2010 - 3:00 am ICT by Angela Kaye MasonOct 1 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Over forty years after the famous “giant leap for mankind” was performed by Neil Armstrong, NASA has severely cut it’s lunar landings and moon program, while China launches their second lunar probe.
The Chang’e-2 probe was launched today from a location in China’s Sichuan province, and is expected to reach the moon’s orbit in the next five days, according to a report by the Xinhua News.
The lunar probe is set to take photos of the surface of the moon, and scan a location for the next unmanned landing which has been scheduled for 2012. The space program of the Chinese has been increased in the last few years, after their first spacewalk which was in 2008. They are considering sending a manned space mission to the moon in 2017, according to the Associated Press.
At the same time, US lawmakers have passed a bill which will lead NASA away from their normal rocket launches, and towards a long distance space mission, such as to Mars.
- China to select new site for moon rocket launch - Nov 29, 2010
- China to go to moon, Mars, Venus and beyond - Sep 20, 2010
- China's 2nd unmanned lunar probe 'Chang'e-2' enters lunar orbit - Oct 06, 2010
- China unveils snapshots of moon - Nov 09, 2010
- China's second lunar probe blasts off - Oct 01, 2010
- China to launch second lunar probe 'Chang'e-2' by October - Sep 28, 2010
- China's 'Chang'e-2' expected to have enough fuel to return to earth - Oct 14, 2010
- China to launch lunar probe by 2010 end - Jun 01, 2010
- China's second unmanned lunar probe maneuvers to correct trajectory - Oct 03, 2010
- China may become second nation to land humans on Moon by 2020 - Feb 03, 2010
- Neil Armstrong turns 80 - Aug 05, 2010
- China could soon leave US behind in militarizing of space - Oct 29, 2010
- China to take next leap in moon probe in October 2010 - Nov 27, 2009
- China to launch its second lunar probe this year - Apr 13, 2010
- Russia to send man to moon by 2030 - Apr 28, 2012
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