In a government white paper released on Tuesday, China has outlined a five-year plan to speed up space technology development to become the first country to soft-land a robotic probe on the far side of the moon and send its first mission to the Red Planet. Both achievements are planned before 2020.
According to the document, the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) plans are to “explore outer space and enhance understanding of the earth and the cosmos; to utilize outer space for peaceful purposes, promote human civilization and social progress, and benefit the whole of mankind; to meet the demands of economic, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress; and to improve the scientific and cultural levels of the Chinese people, protect China’s national rights and interests, and build up its overall strength.”
China sees space exploration as a matter of national pride and has made huge strides in human and robotic spaceflight in recent years.
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