China's first lunar probe program has no military
motives, either in its engineering or scientific objectives, said a
spokesman with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on
Thursday.
"China has undertaken astronautical activities under the
principle of 'peacefully utilizing space'," Pei Zhaoyu, the
spokesman, told a press conference in Beijing.
"The purpose of China's space program, including missions to
probe lunar and outer space, is to explore the universe and benefit
humanity," Pei said, adding that China's lunar probe is an open and
transparent program.
"The program's objective, general plan, technical means as well
as the major developers and manufacturers, have all been
publicized," he said. "We will also keep the public informed about
any major progress in research and development."
The spokesman said that China is looking forward to carrying out
active cooperation and communication with any other countries
regarding exploration of lunar and outer space.
"Actually, the Chang'e-1 program has already involved eight
space experts from China's Hong Kong and Macao regions," Pei said,
noting that the experts have joined an engineering commission
consisting of 122 scientists to research and apply the information
collected by the Chang'e-1 satellite.
According to the program's plan, the data collected by the
satellite will be given to several research institutes and some
will be shared internationally one year later.
He called upon Chinese across the world, including compatriots
in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, to participate in China's space
program to realize the Chinese dream of exploring the universe.
Another expert said at the conference that Chinese scientists
are able to fully control the satellite that will go into lunar
orbit when it approaches closer to the moon. This orbit is vital to
the success of the Chang'e-1 program.
"We have made many emergency plans regarding the process of
sending our lunar probe so that the moon's gravity will capture it
properly and send it into orbit," said Sun Zezhou, deputy chief
designer of the probe. "Even if the breaking moment has to be
delayed for several hours, we have alternate plans to
compensate."
The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National
Defense hosted their first press conference, and described
Chang'e-'s flight conditions.
China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, named after a fairy-tale
Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, blasted off on a Long March
3A carrier rocket on Oct. 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch
Center in southwestern Sichuan Province.
(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2007)