perfidy

Space Daily is reporting that the Chinese have announced more details for its Lunar plans. Within the next three years, the Chinese will launch a Lunar orbiting probe, which is intended to produce three dimensional maps of the lunar surface, information on the composition of the Moon's surface, maps of lunar soil depth, and measurements of the environment between the Earth and the moon.

Beyond the lunar orbiter phase of the plan, the Chinese also hope to develop a automated lunar lander, possibly equipped with a pathfinder-style robotic rover, and eventually a sample return mission. All of this presumably leads to the possibility of a manned Chinese lunar mission, which has been a stated goal of the Chinese space program for some time.

Which means that Burt Rutan needs to get moving so that by the time the creaky apparatus of the Chinese Communist government lands on the moon, they'll find Americans already there, selling timeshare condos and opening amusement parks.

[wik] Do you realize how cool a lunar amusement park would be? Just think of the roller coasters you could build in 1/6th gravity. Also, in weak grasp of the Moon's pull, you could literally strap on wings and fly.

[alsø wik] I really hope that whatever successes the Chinese have in their space program, it does not result in some panicky space race reaction on the part of the American government. The best way to kick ChiCom ass is simply to let the unlimited creativity of the American economy to the job.