China and Russia are discussing lunar exploration cooperation in
the next three years, the deputy head of the Russian Federal Space
Agency said yesterday.
Russia regards China as a "partner" in space exploration, Youriy
Nosenko told a press conference in Beijing, adding that the two
sides have shown interest on a lunar project. He did not
elaborate.
"The two countries have different strengths that can supplement
and benefit each other," he said.
China is the third country to launch a human into space on its
own following Russia and the US.
It announced in a white paper last month that it would launch
its first lunar probe satellite "Chang'e I" for resource
exploration before 2010.
Russia, which plans to send a lunar probe and collect soil
samples between 2010 and 2012, has launched 115 space probes,
accounting for more than half the human attempts at space
exploration.
"We have broad prospects for cooperation Russia will try to
account for a larger percentage in China's space industry," he
said.
China and Russia are currently cooperating in 38 projects
related to space.
Between 2004 and 2006, the two sides were involved in more than
30 joint projects, which have "laid the groundwork for future
cooperation," said Nosenko.
Besides, the two countries are considering a joint mission to
Mars.
In the Mars project that also involves other European countries,
China will be responsible for launching a small satellite to the
Mars in 2009, which will carry equipment designed and produced by
Russia for soil sample collection. The nation will also participate
in Mars landing project.
(China Daily November 10, 2006)
