Asteroids promise payoffs for humanity
09 May 2017
Chinese scientists will look at ways to harvest resources on asteroids and how to use these so-called minor planets as bases for interstellar journeys, according to a senior space expert. Ye Peijian, a leading specialist in deep-space exploration at the China Academy of Space Technology, told an asteroid exploration forum in Beijing on 8 May that more than 900 asteroids fly past Earth each year and many of them have rich resources of precious metals such as platinum, rhodium and iridium. "In the near future, we will study ways to send robots or astronauts to mine suitable asteroids and transport the resources back to Earth. In the long term, we will consider using resources from asteroids to build facilities in space or to provide materials to support interstellar travel," he said.
MORE ...
Children from Hong Kong like to see their future enriched with space assets
16 April 2017
Thirteen Hong Kong primary school students won awards in a government competition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover to China on April 14.
Receiving over 3,000 submissions from December to February, the theme of the poster competition was “When I’m 20.” Children were asked to design a poster to share their thoughts of what life will be like when they enter their 20s. Space topics and traveling into space has been a often reflected feature in the kid's art works.
MORE ...
A high-flier who pursued a dream and defied gravity - Liu Yang's way to become China's first female taikonaut
06 May 2017
Life is a composite of dreams. Some come true, many don’t. When Liu Yang was a child, she dreamed of becoming a bus conductor, a doctor or a teacher. Reality exceeded dreams. She became China’s first female astronaut. When Liu was in her final year of high school, her head teacher recommended her when China was recruiting for female air force pilots. The honor acknowledged her excellent academic record and good eyesight. Against fierce competition, she was admitted to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aviation College at Changchun Aviation University.
MORE...
Chinese space experts are giving more details about the next steps in lunar exploration
05 May 2017
By the end of April, the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND), invited top lunar project officials Wu Weiren and Ye Peijian, to a expert committee meeting to discuss the next steps for lunar exploration. While the plans for Chang'e 4 and 5 are known by now, little was public about the Chang'e-6 mission. Chang'e-6 is supposed to follow Chang'e 4's landing on the far side of the Moon and would likely also target the scientifically significant South Pole-Aitken Basin.
MORE...