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China Steadfast on Plan to Send its Man Onto Moon
A Chinese space official stressed Wednesday the country's determination to land its man on the moon, hinting that it may test launch another unmanned space vehicle soon.
Luan Enjie, director of the State Aerospace Bureau told a space symposium that "China will realize its dream of exploring the moon and will actively participate in the international exploration of Mars."
He said China was developing a manned spaceship based on the successful unmanned test flight last November.
Luan's statements come amid reports that the second unmanned test flight of China's manned space program would take place during the ongoing seven-day National Day holiday which began on October 1.
Luan said the Chinese space program was setting a series of new goals including the development and manufacture of a new type of launcher and efforts to enter the international satellite communication market.
Chinese officials earlier said China planned to put a man in space "early this century," while at least three unmanned test flights were expected to proceed a manned flight.
China launched the "Shenzhou" spaceship last November 21 and the vehicle made a successful 21-hour flight after orbiting the earth 14 times and returning safely to the Qinghai Plateau in northwestern China.
It was launched aboard a Long March 2-F carrier rocket from the new Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu.
The test flight took many Western observers by surprise as it had not been previously announced, although Chinese space officials for years have hinted the country intended to send a man into space.
China has launched nearly 300 satellites since the early 1970s, some 25 for commercial use, while 16 out of 17 retrievable satellites have successfully returned to earth intact.
If China succeeds in putting its man in space it will be the third country to do so, following the former Soviet Union and the United States.
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