Return of Xiaofei and China's space exploration
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 2, 2014
Xiaofei's return is not an isolated event, but is part of China's efforts to land and then return a manned mission from the lunar surface. The data and technology testing involved in the orbiter mission will allow the Chinese lunar probe to enter into the decisive stage of its three-phase program. The initial two phases of orbiting and landing have been accomplished. The final step is not far away, as the Chang'e-5 spacecraft is being prepared for a 2017 take off. Chang'e-5's goal will be to collect samples from the moon and carry them back to Earth. If things go ahead as planned, China will become the third nation, after only the United States and the former USSR, to achieve this glory.
Chinese engineers and scientists are confident in their technical prowess, and the entire mission of orbiting, landing and returning is set to be accomplished within a relatively short period, if we recall that Chang'e-1 was launched in 2007 as part of the orbital phase of China's space program. The completion of a non-crew return mission will mark the beginning of the next stage, which will ultimately involve taking the first Chinese astronaut to the moon. This in turn will pave the way for the construction of an observatory or station on the lunar landscape.
China's success is important, as it still considers itself a developing country despite its unprecedented economic growth over the previous three decades. Though there are sometimes questions about the quality of its technology, China has continued to forge ahead, ignoring negative criticism. The country has refused to be compared with others and has often said that it is not involved in any kind of "space race" with anyone. The low-key soft-pedaling that has been the hallmark of Chinese political philosophy has been successful overall.
China's focus for the future is not just on the lunar expeditions, as the country is also working to set up a permanent space station by 2022. There is also a separate program for sending a mission to Mars.
Modern day space exploration is reminiscent of 15th and 16th century voyages to discover the New World. Those sea journeys created unending conflicts, greed and a colonization spree. Likewise, rivalries would be sharpened if clues of untapped minerals or cheap sources of energy were to be found in space. One can only wish that space travel does not become monopolized by the world's super-rich.
The writer is a Pakistan-based analyst.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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