China is now officially a main player in the international race back to the Moon. And, to show just how serious they are to stay in the race for the long haul, the country displayed its first Moon images captured by the Chang 1 lunar probe it launched just last month.
Chang 1 is currently in orbit above the lunar surface, landscaping Earth’s only non man-made satellite, mapping out a location for China’s planned moon landing by 2012 and again in 2020. The goal is to find a suitable landing site not already explored by other countries such as the U.S., Russia and others.
Premier Wen Jiabao hailed Chang’s success as a major step in “the Chinese race’s 1,000-year-old dream” of exploring the moon.
Japan has also launched its own lunar probe, as will India early next year.
While all countries involved, including the United States, are cautious to not call this a race, it is obvious to anyone that the run to the Moon is back in full swing.
“We have a very open program and we are willing to cooperate according to common international practices,” said Sun Laiyan, head of the China National Space Administration.
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