China is over the moon with its lunar plans.
China is displaying models of the spacecraft and rockets under development that will eventually send astronauts to the moon. The Exhibition of Achievements in China Manned Space Program opened on December 29 at the New International Expo Center in Shanghai. It features a lunar lander spacecraft, a next-generation crew craft as well as the Long March 10 rocket. The new rocket is still being worked on and will be part of the country’s plan to put astronaut boots on the moon before the decade ends. It’s believed the rocket, standing 90 meters tall, will have a test flight in 2027.
Their big moon landing plan starts with two Long March 10 rockets, as well as a lander and another for astronauts. The crewed spacecraft and lander will dock while orbiting the rock before a pair of boots will move to the lander and head to the surface.
They plan to complete scientific work and collect moon samples during a six-hour mission.
Fan Ping, chief designer of space stations at Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology said: “The development of the lunar lander and the new spacecraft is still taking advantage of the previous technologies. We are also accelerating the assessment and development of the manned lunar rover.
“China has announced the goal of landing people on the moon by 2030.
“And after the goal is accomplished, the next could be the building of a lunar research station, so that we can establish our own home on the moon for more scientific experiments.”
China is working with Russia and others to build a lunar outpost, in a project titled International Lunar Research Station.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), said last year the recent hot fire test for the main kerosene-liquid oxygen engine for the Long March 10 was successful. The engine will produce 130 tons of thrust, with a cumulative test firing time of 3,300 seconds, writes Space.
The corporation is China’s main space contractor and is developing components to send their astronauts onto the moon and back again.
It comes after NASA is preparing to enter the next phase of its lunar base.
