China’s space company mentioned Wednesday that its newest lunar explorer had arrived on the launch web site in preparation for a mission to the moon within the first half of this yr.
State broadcaster CCTV posted pictures on its web site of the unit underneath wraps because it was unloaded from a big cargo airplane earlier this week after which transported by flatbed truck to the Wenchang launch web site on southern China’s Hainan island.
The announcement got here a day after a U.S. firm abandoned a lunar landing deliberate for Feb. 23 due to a gas leak that began quickly after takeoff on Monday.
China and the U.S. are each pursuing plans to land astronauts on the moon in what has turn into a rising rivalry in space. The U.S. plans to take action in 2026, and China’s goal date is earlier than 2030.
The China Nationwide Area Administration mentioned that pre-launch checks can be carried out on its Chang’e-6 probe. The mission‘s objectives embody bringing again samples from the far facet of the moon.
One other U.S. moon lander from a Houston firm is because of launch subsequent month.
4 countries—the U.S., Russia, China and India—have landed spacecraft on the moon. Solely the US has beforehand put astronauts on the moon.
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China says it would launch its subsequent lunar explorer within the first half of this yr (2024, January 10)
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