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China plans to build a scientific research station on the moon in "about 10 years," according to the Xinhua State news agency.
The National Space Administration of China (NASA) intends to build the research station in the South Pole region of the moon, said Zhang Kejian, director of the ASOC, in a statement, said Xinhua. It's a bit of a different departure from the NASA NASA's six NASA landings, which took place closer to the equator of the moon between 1969 and 1972.
The details of China's long-term lunar plans are still unclear, but the SCNC has made important steps towards lunar exploration. Earlier this year, the Chinese successfully landed on the far side of the moon, the Chang-e-4 not yet armed, and also placed astronauts in two temporary space stations, Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 . Their space agency also plans to put into orbit a larger and permanent station in the coming years. [Photos from the Moon’s Far Side! China’s Chang’e 4 Lunar Landing]
The first parts of this permanent station will go into orbit on the country's new Long March 5B rocket in the first half of 2020, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported; the mission will not be associated with the International Space Station. The ISS is nearing the end of its operational life. In addition, the United States and China do not cooperate in the field of space flights.
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Kejian also announced that Chang-e-5, an unarmed lunar lander whose launch was originally scheduled for 2017, will attempt to reach the moon and return with samples in 2019, reported Xinhua.
China is now spending more on spaceflight than any other country, except the United States, according to AFP. For the moment, the United States is unable to place human beings in space without stopping on a Russian rocket; Plans to modify this model using for-profit rockets – such as those belonging to SpaceX – have encountered some problems. Nevertheless, US officials have also hinted that it was planned to return to the moon and remain on the planet for an extended period in the near future.
Originally published on Science live.
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