THE SPACE RACE IS BACK ON - AND CHINA IS IN THE LEAD....

A Chinese spacecraft has become the first ever to land on the far side of the moon, according to state-run media, in a giant leap for human space exploration.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) landed the robotic probe Chang’e 4 in the unexplored South Pole-Aitken basin, the largest, oldest, deepest, crater on the

The Communist party-owned Global Times also said the probe had “successfully made the first-ever soft landing” on the far side of the moon.

The mission aims to take detailed measurements of the moon’s terrain and mineral composition.

The successful landing was touted as a “huge feather in China’s cap” by Malcolm Davis, senior analyst in defence strategy and capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

“There’s a lot of geopolitics or astropolitics about this, it’s not just a scientific mission, this is all about China’s rise as a superpower,” said Davis. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm for the space program in China. There’s a lot of nationalism in China, they see China’s role in space as a key part of their rise.”

The landing was greeted as “an impressive accomplishment” by Nasa administrator Jim Brindestine.

A spokesperson from the Australian Space Agency said the agency did not have a comment on the mission except to offer China its congratulations on the success of the landing and to “wish them all the best”.


Davis said China’s successful landing could “set a fire under the Americans”, who may not like the idea that the next person to set foot on the moon may be a Chinese Taikonaut, as they are unofficially called.

“I imagine we will see an announcement the Chinese do intend to send Taikonauts to the moon by 2030,” said Davis.


Spacecraft have taken pictures of the moon’s far side before, but no lander has ever touched down there. The move marks a step towards China’s ambition to become a leading power in space exploration alongside the US and Russia.

Davis said China’s extraterrestrial ambitions seemed to be driven by multiple factors, including a desire for military dominance of space. Other motivations include the access to vast resource wealth provided by the moon and asteroids, in particular Helium-3 which is believed to exist in great abundance on the moon, and also that dominance of the region would be a sign of China’s growing power.

“China has been very clear in its understanding of this. They have compared the moon to the South China sea and Taiwan, and asteroids to the East China sea. They’re making a very clear geopolitical comparison with what’s happening with space and we need to pay attention to that.”

China....I reserve my comment.

How are we sure it is the real moon not Taiwan Moon

When my uncle peter obi was using China as reference point to some of his argument, some myopic in cognitive inertia were mocking him.... China....


Forgetting that almost everything in Nigeria is made in China.
Go to China for 3 months and you will marvel at these people innovation.

Now they are aiming for the moon..



Some of them are still mocking them, forgetting that all that they are wearing is made in China

Blackfire:
When my uncle peter obi was using China as reference point to some of his argument, some myopic in cognitive inertia were mocking him.... China....


Forgetting that almost everything in Nigeria is made in China.
Go to China for 3 months and you will marvel at these people innovation.

Now they are aiming for the moon..



Some of them are still mocking them, forgetting that all that they are wearing is made in China

how can you be comparing an underdeveloped Nigeria with a developing China, even the likes of canada,Australia and majority of the European countries does not come close.

You can still compare it with Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the likes even though they are far far better than Nigeria.

Nigeria is one of the most useless country in Africa, the only thing helping us is oil. Take away the oil, then you will see this country is so backward.

Omololu001:
how can you be comparing an underdeveloped Nigeria with a developing China, even the likes of canada,Australia and majority of the European countries does not come close.

You can still compare it with Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the likes even though they are far far better than Nigeria.

Nigeria is one of the most useless country in Africa, the only thing helping us is oil. Take away the oil, then you will see this country is so backward.

You deserve big stout.
Some mofos think Nigeria is better than China

Blackfire:




You deserve big stout.
Some mofos think Nigeria is better than China

There's no basis for comparison at all.

This is great!

To those up there insulting Nigeria. I read a book by NDT and he mentioned Nigeria as a force to reckon with when it comes to space travel