China to hit the moon?
We’ve discussed China’s space ambitions before (here and here), including Tom Delay’s over-the-top (if not ridiculous) assertion that the U.S. is losing a 21st "Space Race" with China.
And now it appears that China plans to "hit" the moon.
Gasp. Don’t worry — our Eastern "space race competitor" is not bombing the moon:
Chang’e I, China’s first lunar probe satellite will hit the moon to end its one-year orbital tour as part of the research mission, said Professor Xiao Naiyuan from the Department of Astronomy of Nanjing University in a scientific lecture held on October 6, according to a report by Nanjing Daily on October 8. The launch day of the satellite is yet to be determined.
The satellite is expected to shoot high-resolution photos when crashing into the moon, said Xiao.
I can’t wait to see the photos from that. The launch is in its final stages:
Chinese researchers and technicians are making final preparations for the launch of the country’s first moon orbiter.
Zhang Qingwei, minister in charge of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, says his team has nearly finished pre-launch tests.
The rocket and orbiter have been transported to the launch site and will blast off at the end of October. The mission has three main goals: to map three-dimensional images of the lunar surface, analyze dust on the moon, and study the space environment between the Earth and the moon. The minister says the next mission will be to launch a moon vehicle, and then safely return it to Earth.
A video of the orbiter is available here.
And if you want to see the launch in-person, you better be a Chinese national and line-up for your tickets now:
China is offering 2,000 tickets to view the launch of the country’s first lunar mission, the Chang’e 1 probe satellite, a company said Friday.
Only Chinese nationals are allowed to buy the tickets, priced at 800 yuan (107 dollars) each, Yang Pei, a spokeswoman for the ticket agency, Chengdu Chang’e Benyue Co. Ltd., told AFP.
Viewers can choose from three viewing points, with two located 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) away from the launch site and one four kilometres away, according to Friday’s Shanghai Morning Post.
