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A Chinese official on Thursday revealed future planning for new lunar missions to possibly establish a lunar base and accommodate human explorers.
The announcement by deputy commander-in-chief of China’s lunar exploration program Wu Yanhua follows the successful landing of China’s Chang’e 5 probe on Earth on Wednesday after collecting nearly 2 kilograms of moon rock samples, reported The Associated Press.
Wu did not offer concrete dates for a crewed mission to the moon or for building a base, although he noted that there were plans underway for future probe missions with Chang ‘ e 6, 7 and 8.
Additionally, Wu announced future explorations to collect samples from Mars, asteroids, and potential trips to the planet Jupiter.
“China is ready to continue contributing to the world and improving human well-being through Chinese space solutions,” Wu said.
The country’s last trip to the moon marked many firsts for the China National Space Administration (CNSA), including collecting samples of rocks younger than the types the Americans and the Soviet Union had previously collected from 1969. to 1972. In addition, the mission launched a lunar vehicle. on the surface of the moon used to transfer the rock samples.
“As the most complex and technically revolutionary space mission in our country, Chang’e 5 has achieved multiple technical breakthroughs … and represents a historic achievement,” CNSA said in a statement.
China became the third country in 2003 to send an astronaut into orbit following the late 20th-century space race between the Soviet Union and the United States.
The most recent Chang’e 5 probe has been assisted by the European Space Agency, as well as Argentina, Namibia and Pakistan, who are working with China to monitor and communicate with its spacecraft.
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