An astronaut stands on the surface of the Moon

Scientists in the UK have expressed their enthusiasm for China’s plans to explore the Moon with robotic spacecraft, and are keen to take part in the adventure.

British scientists are seeking to collaborate with their Chinese counterparts on the Cheng’e programme. This four-phase programme could see the return of astronauts to the moon’s surface for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Ties between the Chinese and UK space community have been strengthened since a visit to China made by a team of British academics, agency officials, and space scientists earlier this year. At that time discussions took place regarding the UK building scientific instruments for the second phase of China’s lunar missions .

One British academic who participated in the discussions, Professor John Zarnecki of the Open University said, "I think they are looking for significant collaboration. They have got good technology themselves but they will admit that they are fairly new in space science; so they don't have all of the instrument capabilities and so on."

China has already established itself as the third space superpower, having successfully launched two manned spaceflights – last year two Chinese astronauts spent five days in orbit before safely returning to Earth. But China’s space ambitions don’t stop there. As well as a lunar landing, plans are being made to set up a permanent space station .

The UK, on the other hand, has had a more modest space programme. Only a handful of Britons have broken free of the Earth’s atmosphere. Most recently, UK-born astronaut, Piers Sellers, spent thirteen days on board the American space shuttle Discovery.

However, British space exploration has not always gone according to plan. The Beagle 2 probe to Mars disappeared without a trace on Christmas Day 2003.

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GLOSSARY 詞匯表 (收聽發音, 請單擊英語單詞) 

robotic spacecraft 機器人宇宙飛船	take part 參與, 參加
seeking 尋找	collaborate 合作
counterparts 相對應的人, 同仁	astronauts 宇航員
scientific instruments 科學儀器	academics 學習，學術
participated 參加, 參與	lunar missions 月球探測使命
manned spaceflights 載人航天	in orbit 進入軌道
lunar landing 登陸月球	space station 空間站
broken free 掙脫, 脫離	atmosphere 大氣
probe 探測	disappeared without a trace 消失得無影無蹤

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