Universe Today » China

China Looking Towards Manned Lunar Landing

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:52:04 +0000

A Chinese space scientist said that his country is considering the feasibility of a manned lunar landing mission sometime between 2025 and 2030. China is also planning a sample return mission to the Moon by 2017, said Ye Peijian, chief designer of the China's Chang'e Project. "Through the development of lunar probes, we have made constant progress of the ability to explore the outer space," Ye was quoted as saying by the China News Service.
(...)
Read the rest of China Looking Towards Manned Lunar Landing (230 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Will US Astronauts Ride Chinese Rockets?

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:15:23 +0000

Long March rocket launching the Shenzhou 5. Credit: Wikimedia

The White House is reviewing possible options where NASA astronauts could catch rides to the International Space Station on Chinese rockets, according to an article in the Huntsville (Alabama) Times. The Times quoted President Barack Obama's new science adviser, John Holdren, in an interview last week that using the Chinese National Space Agency's Shenzhou spacecraft "should not be ruled out" during the interim between the retirement of the space shuttles and when the new Ares rocket and Orion capsule are ready to go. NASA's plans are to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets from 2010, the planned shuttle retirement, to 2015, the tentatively scheduled first manned mission of Ares. Other options are possible commercial ferry flights to the International Space Station from the winners of the COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) contracts. But could China be in the mix, as well?
(...)
Read the rest of Will US Astronauts Ride Chinese Rockets? (292 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Chang'e 1 Bites the (Moon) Dust

Nancy Atkinson — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:08:36 +0000

Chang'e-1, China's first lunar probe successfully concluded its mission early March 1 by impacting the surface of the Moon at 8:13 GMT. The satellite conducted a 16-month mission, mapping and creating three-dimensional images of the lunar surface. The planned impact was designed to help China gather experience for landing a subsequent lunar probe. China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense said the spacecraft hit the lunar surface at 1.50 degrees south latitude and 52.36 degrees east longitude.
(...)
Read the rest of Chang'e 1 Bites the (Moon) Dust (167 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

China's First Spacewalk a Success (Video)

Ian O'Neill — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:38:46 +0000

It's official, China has become the third nation to successfully carry out a spacewalk in Earth orbit. Fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang was the first to exit the Shenzhou-7 module at 16:30 Beijing Time (08:30 GMT), as the Chinese space agency streamed live video of the event. Zhai lifted himself through the hatch and waved at the camera attached to the service module on the outside of the craft, with Earth looming overhead. Shortly after, crew mate Liu Boming emerged to hand Zhai a small Chinese flag which he waved enthusiastically. The extra-vehicular activity (EVA) lasted for about 15 minutes. At the start of the EVA, Zhai said, "I'm feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world."
(...)
Read the rest of China's First Spacewalk a Success (Video) (294 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

China Launches Manned Spacecraft

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:25:03 +0000

Shenzhou-7 launch. Credit: Xinhuanet

China successfully launched its third manned spacecraft today with three astronauts on board. During the mission, they will attempt the country's first-ever space walk. The Long March II-F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province at 9:10 p.m. local time. Onboard pilots Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng are will orbit Earth for three days. The astronauts, called taikonauts, told the ground control center that they felt "physically sound" in the first few minutes of the flight.
(...)
Read the rest of China Launches Manned Spacecraft (230 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

China To Launch Manned Mission This Month

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:15:45 +0000

China's Long March rocket. Credit: Xinhua

China will launch its third manned space mission in late September, sending three astronauts into Earth orbit. The mission will feature China's first-ever space walk, according to the Xinhua News Agency, the official news agency of China. The Shenzhou 7 launch will take place sometime between Sept. 25 and 30, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu province. The space walk will be broadcast live using cameras mounted on the inside and outside of the spacecraft.
(...)
Read the rest of China To Launch Manned Mission This Month (150 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

The Chinese "Weather Manipulation Missile" Olympics

Ian O'Neill — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:50:44 +0000

Chinese weather control rocket blasts off (Source: ImpactLab.com)

One thing is for certain, the Chinese cannot be accused of being subtle when it comes to insuring good weather for the biggest party on Earth. Sounding like a military operation, the Chinese government authorized the use of 1,104 cloud seeding missile launches from 4:00-11:39pm on Friday night to remove the threat of rain ahead of the 29th Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing. This was the first time the weather manipulation technique was used during any Olympic event in the history of the games. This summer period can be a very wet season for Beijing and officials have been concerned their moment of huge national pride would be a wash-out. But it would appear the 21 rain dispersal launch sites kept nature at bay and made sure the celebration fireworks didn't get soggy…
(...)
Read the rest of The Chinese "Weather Manipulation Missile" Olympics (386 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

China Launches Second Olympic Satellite; Will Help Earthquake Zone

Ian O'Neill — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:30:27 +0000

China is stepping up its preparations for this year's Olympics to be held in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Concern is growing for the start of the games this summer as early August is known to be a wet period in the region. More advanced weather satellites are therefore being sent into orbit to aid the forecasting effort. This is good timing for improved weather satellite technology as the earthquake-striken Sichuan province recovery effort has been hampered by poor weather conditions. Aid and search operations will greatly benefit from better weather forecasting…
(...)
Read the rest of China Launches Second Olympic Satellite; Will Help Earthquake Zone (282 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

China Plans for Big Year in Space

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:12:50 +0000

China is hoping to launch 15 rockets, 17 satellites and its third manned mission in 2008. This is an ambitious manifest for any country, and it appears China hopes to take its global emergence to new heights in a year in which it will also host the summer Olympics.
(...)
Read the rest of China Plans for Big Year in Space (254 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Is China Building a Space Station?

Fraser Cain — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:09:52 +0000

There are mixed reports coming out of China on their plans to loft a space station by 2020. A Chinese aerospace engineer, Long Lehao, mentioned to journalists that the China National Space Administration was planning to build a "small-scale 20 tonne space workshop". But then space officials at the agency denied the report. So what's going on?
(...)
Read the rest of Is China Building a Space Station? (237 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Chang'e-1 Enters Lunar Orbit

Fraser Cain — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:53:00 +0000

Chinese space officials announced that their Chang'e-1 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on Monday, completing a new milestone in the country's goals of space exploration. The spacecraft is scheduled to begin scanning the lunar surface on Wednesday, but first, it has to complete two additional braking maneuvers.
(...)
Read the rest of Chang'e-1 Enters Lunar Orbit (219 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Chinese Moon Mission Blasts Off

Fraser Cain — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:22:37 +0000

The Moon had been lonely for a while, but now there's no shortage of spacecraft on the way. The latest visitor, China's Chang'e-1, blasted off today from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, Sichuan, atop a Long March 3A rocket. Although this spacecraft is just a lunar orbiter, it begins the country's journey to putting a lander down on the surface of the Moon before 2020.
(...)
Read the rest of Chinese Moon Mission Blasts Off (137 words)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Chinese Capsule Lands

Fraser Cain — Wed, 03 Apr 2002 02:38:51 +0000

China's third unmanned spacecraft returned to Earth on Monday after spending a week in orbit. The Shenzhou capsule, touched down in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 0851 GMT (3:51am EST). The spacecraft contained a series of experiments designed to test the life support systems of the capsule. It's still unknown when China will actually send humans into space, but officials from the country's space agency said that more unmanned tests will still be required.

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh