China, Russia plan joint Mars mission
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-08-24 07:02
China and Russia are planning a joint mission to Mars
that will not only bring samples back to earth but also land on one of the red
planet's tiny moons, a Chinese space scientist in Beijing has said.
Ye
Peijian, a leading scientist with the Chinese Research Institute of Space
Technology, made the announcement at an ongoing forum on China's space
technology development.
Ye said Russia will launch the spacecraft in
2009 and it will carry China-made survey equipment. It will collect samples on
Mars and the planet's nearest moon.
Sun Laiyan, administrator of the
China National Space Administration said last month at an international space
conference that China is actively planning its deep space exploration over the
next five years, focusing on lunar and Mars exploration.
"We will
encourage other countries to take part in space science programs initiated by
China, and Chinese scientists will participate in international space science
programs," Sun said.
In February 2004, China began the Lunar Exploration
Mission and started research and development on the Chang'e lunar probe.
China's space agency plans to launch its first lunar orbiter Chang'e I
in 2007. In 2010, it will launch an unmanned spacecraft for a soft landing on
the Moon.
In October 2005, Shenzhou VI initiated manned space lab
experiments. China also launched four recoverable satellites.
Also
attending the ongoing forum held by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Sun said
that the priorities in China's future space program were manned space missions,
lunar probes, the development of high resolution observation systems, second
generation navigation and positional systems, and a new generation carrier
rocket.
Wang Xiaojun, deputy director of the general department of the
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said that China urgently needs to
develop a new generation carrier rocket to increase China's space capacities.
Research and development of the heavy carrier rocket, in-orbit assembly
and launch technology, and reuse of carriers will be key areas, Wang said.
Wang Yongzhi, former chief designer of China's manned-space project,
said at the forum that China will need to construct its own space station in the
future.
But the construction of the space station should reflect China's
situation and practical needs, said the scientist, who has made a very
significant contribution to China's manned space missions.
"China's
future space station should be small and economical," said Wang, adding that it
may not be manned all the time.
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