China plans base on the moon to exploit mineral resources: report

AFP - spacedaily.com ^ | 19 May 02 | staff

[RightWhale]

China plans base on the moon to exploit mineral resources: report

BEIJING (AFP) May 19, 2002

China, which is pushing ahead with a fledgling space program, plans to establish a base on the moon in order to exploit its mineral resources, state media reported Sunday.

"Our long-term goal is to set up a base on the moon and mine its riches for the benefit of humanity," the Beijing Morning Post said, citing Ouyang Ziyuan, an official with the Chinese space program.

The paper said China has adopted a three-step plan that will eventually make it possible to fly to the moon.

China first wants to put an astronaut in space, then establish a space laboratory, and eventually set up a space station, the paper said.

The paper quoted Wang Zhuangyin, a leading space-program engineer, as saying China would probably be able to achieve manned space flight by 2005.

This is more pessimistic than reports in the Chinese media earlier this year which suggested it would be possible within the next two years.

Wang told the paper that China currently has 12 trained astronauts "awaiting orders."

If successful, China will become the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to put a human into space.

China earlier this year launched its third successful unmanned test flight.

The Shenzhou III, or "Divine Vessel III," traveled 108 times around the earth on a flight that ended April 1.

Western diplomats in Beijing say China's space efforts are mainly symbolic and aimed at raising awareness of science and technology among its 1.3 billion citizens, while invoking nationalistic pride.

But the program also offers significant scientific and technological advances to Chinese scientists. In addition, it provides the military -- the main administrator of the space program -- with a range of space-based applications, they said.

[RightWhale]

Once the Chinese get a head-start, how long will it take for NASA, the Space Command, or Congress to become alarmed and start an expensive crash program, a new race to the moon?

[LarryLied]

This time around, the rocketmen leading our program won't be Germans but Asians.

[Jeff Gordon]

China can exploit the mineral and all other resources on the earth from a Moon base. Tell your kids to start learning Mandrin.

[PsyOp]

The paper quoted Wang Zhuangyin, a leading space-program engineer, as saying China would probably be able to achieve manned space flight by 2005.

Which means that by the time they're ready to put a colony on the Moon, there will be a McDonalds waiting for them to arrive. "You want fries with that moonshake? Comrade."

[galt-jw]

dream on. someone is really feeling it. before bubba you morons couldnt launch a rocket without it exploding.

oh yeah, know what it says on their spacecraft?

light fuse and get away.

besides, everyone knows aliens have bases there already.<;=)

[Maitre_Z]

How many millions of dollars per ton will it cost to lug those (worthless?) rocks back to earth.

This is a typical communist misallocation of resources - ideology before sensible investments.

We should encourage them to do so. It might hasten the collapse their economy since the cost to benefit will be extremely high.

[rellimpank]

--good. While they waste time and money on this idiotic scheme, it will detract from their ability to cause mischief here on earth--

[Newbomb Turk]

GOOD DAMN LUCK !

[opinionator]

The Chinese will also become the first to discover a way to turn lead into gold. Come on America! Get off your butts! Let's throw all our money into this worthwhile program!

[RightWhale]

Their first moon landing could be as early as 2010. Once they achieve man-in-space they should progress very quickly. The reason is that NASA has thoughtfully provided answers to all the questions such as Van Allen Belt radiation danger, whether the lander would sink a mile deep in dust on the moon, how to design spacesuits so the occupant can move his arms, how to design rockets that don't explode so often, etc.

[jwh_Denver]

What a joke. "Ah so, yes, we spend $16 trillion dollar to bring back $2 moon dust!" And yeah, "Hey Chicoms!, your crappy clothes you make wont make the trip, better buy American."

[Maitre_Z]

The cultural reveolution in outer space :-)

[Int]

By the time this happens, China would already have a space station in orbit for many years. Who knows what the international political situation will look like then? Perhaps there will be a united grab for the moon's resources by everyone including NASA, the European Space Agency and that of the Japanese. The question is; how will La Luna be divided up? Might makes right? Equal division? Do countries without a space programme deserve any of the minerals? And will the Greenies (little greenie men? :-) be able to muster enough opposition to the whole plan?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...GOD SPEED ...John Glenn...

...Communist China's real 1st -Man in Space-..

[Maitre_Z]

Hey, we got first dibs on Mars.

[RightWhale]

I agree. Mining the moon won't be profitable for a long time. Asteroid mining could be highly profitable much sooner. But exploiting mineral resources doesn't necessarily mean extracting aluminum or iron and bringing it back to earth. There are many other possibilities.

[PsyOp]

Well they better do something about their manufacturing capability. Because if the same people make their lunar equipment that make the crap they sell here, the lunar surface is going to be littered with dead chinamen. Knowing how to do it and being ablr to make it work are not the same thing. I'll take the bet against 2010.

[RightWhale]

The critical item is water. At this time water is still considered unavailable on the moon, but there are signs that water ice might be present near the moon's south pole, in the permanent shadow from direct sunlight.

If the Chinese set up at that point, and it is the only place with water, they will essentially own the moon.