The recent development in aerospace has been a hot topic among deputies present at the soon ending NPC and CPPCC sessions. With the unveiling of the first picture of the moon surface taken by Chang'e 1 – China's first lunar probe – by Premier Wen Jiabao at the end of last year, the 1,000-year-old Chinese dream of flying to the Moon is materializing.
The lunar probe is the third milestone in China's space exploration, following the success of man-made satellites and manned space flights. The achievements not only manifested China's rising national strength and technical innovation; but also elevated the country's international status and cemented national cohesion.
According to Luan Enjie, chief commander of China's Lunar Probe Project, China would continue to use major scientific and technological projects as a "tractive force" to drive along research and development as well as the application of new technologies.
He believed that core technologies can not be bought. On the other hand, Chinese technicians have invented and grasped great core technologies through participating in the lunar probe project; and achieved 100 percent quality assurance on design and manufacturing tests.
Regarding self-reliance in the development and innovation of core technologies, Premier Wen has also encouraged technicians to strive for exploration and pursue technical innovations in a scientific and integrated manner.
Looking at the future of China's three-step moon exploration – a moon landing and the launch of a moon rover around 2012, and the extraction of lunar soil and stone samples for scientific research around 2017 – some senior space experts would be quite proud and gratified to see numerous successors for their undertakings to improve overall space science and technology capabilities. Lunar probe researchers in China are no more than 40 years old on average; and a number of people in their early 30's or 40's have already assumed the posts of chief designer and chief commander.
A Chinese space expert released on March 11 that the Long March 5 large-thrust carrier rocket, currently under development and scheduled for service in 2014, will be mainly used for the delivery of moon rovers, large satellites and space stations.
China currently employs its self-developed Long march 3 series rocket for most space missions. A Long March 3A rocket was used to deliver the country's first lunar probe, Chang'e 1, in October 2007.
Premier Wen asserted in his speech that on the day when Chang'e 1 sent back the first picture of the moon's surface, "China had joined the select group of world powers with the capability to engage in deep-space exploration."
Since 1996, China has topped the world with a straight record of 61 successful rocket launches. It can be said with confidence that with the successful test launch of the jumbo rocket and other space science and technology breakthroughs, the Chinese people can expecting first-class research results based upon first-hand exploration data from the lunar probe as well as other deep-space explorations.
Source: Xinhua
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