China is expected to launch its first ever lunar probe satellite in 2007, given that the country's moon exploration project has so far been proceeding smoothly, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASTC).
Addressing a forum on space technology held here Tuesday, Ye Peijian, chief designer of the satellite with the CASTC, said that Dubbed "Chang'e-I", China's first lunar orbiter is scheduled to be launched in 2007 for the country's first fly-by mission.
"The design of various plans which serve to meet different situations and simulation satellites has finished and all related professional experiments are going on," said Ye.
The research and development work of real-use satellites will begin in September, he said, noting that one to two real-use ones will be developed.
"After the lunar flight, China will carry out soft landing exploration and auto inspection missions on the moon, with the core part being the realization of landing probes on the moon surface and carrying out scientific exploration," he said.
"A basic space flight engineering system, including that for moon soft landing probes and moon surface inspectors, should then be established," he said.
According to Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of the moon probe project, China will carry out various projects on the materials, dynamics, radiation, astronomic and other fields.
So far, China has developed some demonstration probes for the coming moon flight, which is armed with various apparatuses like a moon-probing radar and infrared spectrum equipment.
Copyright 2005 by Space Daily, Distributed United Press International
Related stories:
The adventure of space enterprise in the 21st century
For over a half century, human activities in outer space have increased, but the high point was the Apollo Moon landings from 1969 – 1972. Now the United States has set forth a national space policy to return permanently to the lunar surface by 2020, and NASA is engaged in strategic planning to accomplish that goal. Furthermore, Europe, Russia, Japan, China and India are undertaking missions to the Moon and its vicinity. All this will lead to using our natural satellite as a space station and launch pad to Mars and other celestial bodies.
August brings the Perseid meteors and a cluster of planets
(PhysOrg.com) -- The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak before dawn on Aug. 12. This year the Perseids will be competing with the nearly full moon at first, but after the moon sets there will be many bright streaks in the sky.
'Sun-eating dragon' returns to China
Earth, the Sun and the Moon will align in a celestial ballet on Friday, rewarding China, where the first record of an eclipse was made more than 4,000 years ago, with a dazzling show. Longingly awaited, the first total solar eclipse since March 2006 kicks off at 0923 GMT, when the lunar shadow touches down on the fringes of Nunavut province in northern Canada.
Partial Solar Eclipse visible from the UK on the morning of 1st August
On 1st August 2008 there will be a total eclipse of the Sun, visible from Canada, northern Greenland, Svalbard, the Barents Sea, Russia, Mongolia and China. From the whole of the British Isles observers will see a partial solar eclipse, with between 1/10th and 1/3rd of the Sun obscured by the Moon.
Planets Align for the 4th of July
News Flash: On 4th of July weekend, NASA forecasts lights in the sky. No, not those lights. Look beyond the fireworks. Almost halfway up the western sky, just above the twilight glow of sunset, a trio of worlds is gathering: Saturn, Mars and the crescent Moon.
Who's Orbiting the Moon?
The space around Earth is a busy place, as teeming with traffic as a roundabout. More than 500 active satellites are bustling about up there right now. Some are transmitting radio, television, and telephone signals; others are gathering information about Earth's atmosphere and weather; still others are helping people navigate down here; and the rest are conducting space research.
SMART-1: Europe on the Moon, 1 year on
A year ago, as Europe reached the Moon for the first time, scientists on Earth eagerly watched SMART-1’s spectacular impact. New results from the impact analysis and from the instruments still keep coming.
European meeting in Athens fuels future space exploration missions to Mars, Moon
A European Science Foundation (ESF)-led workshop sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) has enabled 88 scientists from 11 European countries to agree on science goals for future Europe's planetary exploration programme; providing the continent with an ambitious roadmap to examine Mars and the Moon.