spacetoday.net: Chinese scientists planning series of lunar missions

Posted: Mon, Mar 3, 2003, 7:38 AM ET (1238 GMT)
China may embark on a series of unmanned missions to the Moon if the government signs off on an exploration program proposed by Chinese scientists, Chinese newspapers reported this weekend. The "Chang'e Programme", named after a fairy in Chinese legend that flew to the Moon, is a three-phase approach to unmanned lunar exploration that would start as early as 2005, and no later than 2010. China would first place a spacecraft into lunar orbit to map the lunar surface and study its composition. The second phase of the program includes lunar landers and possibly rovers. The final phase of the program would be a sample-return mission. The program in its current format does not include any manned missions to the Moon. The program has yet to be approved by the Chinese government, and the release of the plan was timed to coincide with this week's meeting of the National People's Congress in order to raise awareness about the program with legislators.