[FPSPACE] China's Moon Plans

[Matula, Thomas L.]

Hi All,

An article from the CBC on China’s moon plans. 

Tom

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/quirks-blog/2007/03/red_flag_rising_on_the_moon.html

Red flag rising on the moon
Monday, March 19, 2007 | 09:03 AM ET
By quirks


Some paragraphs of interest


[[[So with the American program falling behind and the Chinese pushing forward, it’s a pretty close call who will be first back to the moon.

But there is an undercurrent here. The heavy lift rockets being developed by the Chinese are also military boosters, capable of carrying weapons into space and dropping them anywhere on the planet, something that has many in the West squirming in their chairs.]]]

And

[[[The policy calls upon the Secretary of Defense to, "develop capabilities, plans, and options to ensure freedom of action in space, and, if directed, deny such freedom of action to adversaries."

China’s space policy is not as blatant, but is eerily similar: "
to meet the demands of economic construction, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress; and to raise the scientific quality of the Chinese people, protect China's national interests and rights, and build up the comprehensive national strength."]]]