Jade Rabbit has LandedChina to attempt first moon landingChina sends its first female astronaut into spaceSpace Plan From China Broadens Challenge to U.S.SpaceX cheaper than China's Cost!China and US Space Race | Learning Chinese Language Materials for Kids

Jade Rabbit has Landed

China's Lunar Lander name is Jade Rabbit. China it the third nation ever, to land a lander on the Moon. I view this as exciting news, and a bit sad it's been 35 years since the last probe to the moon.

Another View, that China may make a territorial claim on the Moon. The US and China are two nations, that did not sign a treaty on mineral rights in outer space. Will China restart the Space Race? Beijing makes a territorial claim on the moon, it will reignite the lunar rush. Glenn Reynolds USA Today

Chinese Moon Festival Coloring Page, Jade Rabbit

When Chiang E arrived at the moon the magic potion (in some versions a pill) was coughed up and became the jade rabbit, and since then he has worked at his pestle trying to make the potion of immortality with no success. Coloring Page of the Jade Rabbit, Chinese Moon Festival

Labels: china space, china's future, Chinese moon festival, moon

China to attempt first moon landing

It's nice to see steady process in the area of space. The landing will be un-manned.

China to attempt first moon landing - The Telegraph

Labels: china space, china's future

China sends its first female astronaut into space

China sends its first female astronaut into space - The Telegraph

Exciting news that China keep on pushing progress in space.

Labels: china space, future

Space Plan From China Broadens Challenge to U.S.

China plans to have a man on the moon, as well as their own space station per their latest 5 year plan for Space. The US space policy seems to be going no where, with the exception of the work that is being done privately in the US that is very exciting.

China has also just launched their own GPS satellite navigation system, which will be completed by 2020. They need 35 satellites for complete world coverage, and currently have launched 10, and will launch 6 more in 2011.

Space Plan From China Broadens Challenge to U.S. - NY Times

Labels: china space

SpaceX cheaper than China's Cost!

I am impressed and surprised.

China has been offering relatively low cost launch services.

WHY THE US CAN BEAT CHINA: THE FACTS ABOUT SPACEX COSTS - SpaceX

I was looking at the SpaceX site and it does not appear they offer tours. One time I went on a tour of the Rockwell plant in Downey. A friend of mine had done the Space Mural on the wall.

Labels: china space

China and US Space Race

China is definitely in a space race, even if the world has been distracted by China's Milk Scandal And in a strange coincidence, Sanlu is a sponsor of the Chinese Space Program. China just did a space walk and was the third nation, after the USSR and US to do this. It was meant to be follow up the the Beijing Olympics to show how far advanced China is. Future plans include a space station and a trip to the Moon. Perhaps China will focus on the commercialization of space, such as raw materials.

Other countries with interests in space are India and Japan. The US due to pork barrel politics and lack of leadership with the space shuttle as Exhibit 1, and the International Space Station as Exhibit 2, has no real official plan for space (Richard Feyman's comments on the space shuttle are still so relevant). Private space efforts focused on space tourism in my opinion are the only real hope for progress in the US.

References:

China’s first spacewalk: no cold-war race this time - Christian Monitor
Spokesman: China to build space station in 2020 - Xinhau
Spokesman: China to build space station in 2020 - Houston Chronicle
China space program advances with first spacewalk - Associated Press
China’s latest spectacular: a walk in space - Economist
Feynman's Personal Observations On The Reliability Of The Space Shuttle

Labels: china space

Monday, December 16, 2013