Asian Invasion: Chinas Conquering of the Final Frontier With its rapidly expanding economy, China is now playing

a larger and larger role in international affairs. Although Chinas increasing influence is most easily noticed through the ubiquitous Made in China tags on nearly all manufactured goods, China is now seeking to establish a new presence in the field of space exploration. Although the Chinese Space Program was established 35 years after NASA, Chinese engineers have made much progress despite their relatively late start in comparison with the US and Russian space programs. The Chinese program has already launched multiple probes into space. In fact, the Chinese space program has successfully completed more than 67 launches, launching approximately 79 spacecraft into orbit. The China National Space Administrations (CNSA) numerous unmanned missions include multiple observational satellites, Change-1, a lunar probe that collected data of the moon and mapped the moons surface, and Shenzhou 8, a space lab module paving the way for Chinas plans for a space station. In addition to unmanned flights, China took another step forward and became the third country to independently launch a man into space and complete a spacewalk in 2003. Launched on October 15, the first Chinese manned spacecraft carried astronaut Yang Liwei into space and spent 21.5 hours in orbit around the Earth. CNSA soon followed with two more manned missions in 2005 and 2008.

Although CNSA has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments, the new program continues to plan for the future. CNSAs largest current goals include the construction and launch of a space station by 2020 and landing an astronaut on the moon. By successfully constructing an operating space station, CNSA hopes to improve and master important space station technology, including regenerative life support, and propellant fueling. Similarly, CNSA Chinas plan for a lunar landing also provides an opportunity to test and improve unmanned data-collecting probes and drones. Chinese engineers are currently developing a robotic lunar lander to be launched in 2013. Part of the data-collecting phase of CNSAs moon exploration plan, Change 3 will be the third probe sent to the moon in order to further develop a high-resolution map of the moons surface. In addition to these two major goals, CNSA plans to use lunar exploration missions and labs as a starting point for future studies of Mars, Venus, and deep space. On a more practical scale, CNSA will also study space debris and small near-Earth celestial bodies in order to research methods and technology to protect spacecraft from debris. Out of all the projects CNSA plans to complete, the one that potentially impacts everyday lives the most is Chinas development of communications and navigations satellites. This new project, collectively called the Beidou navigation system, consists of an advanced satellite network intended to compete with the positioning services provided by the United States current GPS network. On Dec. 17, of last year, China

activated the partially complete Beidou system on a provisional basis. Currently the new navigation network consists of 10 satellites and covers the Asia-Pacific region, providing detailed information and services over a zone from the southern border of Russia to Australia and from India to the Pacific Ocean. Although presently limited, Xinhua, a state-run news agency, reports that global coverage will be possible by 2020 with a completed satellite network of 35 satellites. Despite recently entering the field of space exploration, China has accomplished much in a short time frame. Furthermore, the multitude of technological advancements by CNSA and the rapid pace set by the program ensures that China will continue to develop and improve. Ultimately, CNSAs efforts will ensure that China will hold a prominent place in the field of space exploration.

Picture Sources: http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2008/09/18/4634shenzhou5.jpg (Shenzhou Project Launch) http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/moon_surface_by_change_1.jpg (Changee Projects Maps of the Moon) http://www.globaltimes.cn/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20%20NewsArticles/ImageHandler.ashx?Width=550&Height=800&HomeDirectory=%2FPortals%2F0%2F&F ileName=attachment%2F2011%2Fa75732b2-6b96-4982-a9ee-d91521e74bdd.jpg&PortalID=0&q=1 (Navigational Satellite Diagram)

Further Reading:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/29/china-space-stations_n_1174305.html (History) http://www.space.com/13850-asia-space-race-china-india-competition.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/shenzhou-8-tiangong-1-chinaspace_n_1073384.html http://www.space.com/13805-china-rocket-launch-breaks-record.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/china-space-station-plans-_n_854071.html http://www.space.com/14199-china-targets-2013-launch-lunar-landing.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/11/chinas-space-program_n_894479.html