China eyes manned moon mission by 2036

China eyes manned moon mission by 2036

PanARMENIAN.Net - China wants to put astronauts on the moon by 2036, a senior space official said, the latest goal in China's ambitious lunar exploration program, Reuters reports.

China in 2003 became the third country to put a man in space with its own rocket after the former Soviet Union and the United States. It has touted its plans for moon exploration and in late 2013 completed the first lunar "soft landing" since 1976 with the Chang'e-3 craft and its Jade Rabbit rover.

The country also plans to land the first probe ever on the dark side of the moon in 2018, another milestone.

China must "raise its abilities and use the next 15 to 20 years to realize manned lunar exploration goals, and take a firm step for the Chinese people in breaking ground in the utilization of space", Lieutenant General Zhang Yulin, deputy commander of the China Manned Space Program, said, according to Reuters.

Zhang made the comments in statement posted to the program's website on Thursday.

The official China Daily newspaper said the announcement marked "the country's first confirmation of a manned lunar exploration program."

The paper cited experts saying China needed first to develop a powerful enough rocket to lift a payload of at least 100 metric tons into low Earth orbit. It also needs more advanced technology, including new space suits, for a lunar mission.

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