China Space Goals

Unmanned Moon landing in 2007

From a BBC interview with the director: The Moon was a major target and the first mission should take place before Beijing hosts the Olympic Games in four years' time.

"First, we'll try to send an unmanned spacecraft there in 2007."

"That's the first step... second step is to send an unmanned craft to land on the Moon and move around and send back data. 3rd step is taking samples and coming back to Earth. All these will be unmanned."

The next few years will also see more Chinese astronauts, or yuhangyuan, launched into Earth orbit, following the path taken last October by Yang Liwei. Some of these space people will be women.

The CNSA chief said China was serious about establishing an orbiting space station and laboratory but he gave no timescale.

The US has blocked China from participating in the International Space Station, which may be one reason why China is prepared to build its own.