Pie in the sky? China’s talk of missile base on the moon, countered by earth-bound realities

Special to WorldTribune.com

China is set to mark a watershed in the global space race by putting a “rover” on the moon that is capable of doing complicated experiments on rugged terrain.

A Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang’e-3 lunar probe blasts off from the launch pad at Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Dec. 2. /AP/Xinhua/Li Gang

The state-of-the-art vehicle, called Jade Rabbit, landed on the moon over the weekend.

Yet what is less well-known is that the moon program will yield a bonanza of benefits for President Xi Jinping’s ambitious goal of narrowing the gap between the military technologies of China and those of the United States.

Jiang Jie, the chief designer of the lunar rocket system, said that new achievements had been made in using a variety of technology — lasers, super-sensors, as well as GPS and remote-control mechanisms — to fine-tune this landmark lunar expedition.

Read complete article.

countered by earth-bound realities, Jade Rabbit, Jiang Jie, Pie in the sky? China’s talk of missile base on the moon, Xi Jinping

Pie in the sky? China’s talk of missile base on the moon, countered by earth-bound realities added by World Tribune on December 18, 2013
View all posts by World Tribune →