China Reveals Its Space Plans Up to 2016

[n2doc]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 29, 2011 at 7:02 AM ET

BEIJING (AP) — China plans to launch space labs and manned ships and prepare to build space stations over the next five years, according to a plan released Thursday that shows the country's space program is gathering momentum.

China has already said its eventual goals are to have a space station and put an astronaut on the moon. It has made methodical progress with its ambitious lunar and human spaceflight programs, but its latest five-year plan beginning next year signals an acceleration.

By the end of 2016, China will launch space laboratories, manned spaceship and ship freighters, and make technological preparations for the construction of space stations, according to the white paper setting out China's space progress and future missions.

China's space program has already made major breakthroughs in a relatively short time, although it lags far behind the United States and Russia in space technology and experience.

more
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/12/29/world/asia/AP-AS-China-Space.html

[phantom power]

1. hopefully somebody will pick up the torch we dropped

[tridim]

2. It would be much smarter for China to work on space exploration with the rest of the planet.