BEIJING — China this week published a white paper detailing the country’s activities in space for the next half-decade and beyond.
According to state-run newspaper the Global Times, the Chinese government plans to launch and land probes on Mars and the moon by 2020. The lunar mission is set for 2018 and, if successful, would see the first ever probe being landed on the far side of the moon.
China also plans on robotically exploring the Moon’s north and south poles, reported the Planetary Society, citing Wu Yanhua, deputy administrator of the China National Space Administration.
China’s Mars mission is slated for 2020. China plans to send a lander, rover and orbiter to Mars all in one go. There, China aims to collect samples from the planet and transport them to Earth by 2030.
Other plans include the exploration of an asteroid and the Jupiter system, with the latter expected to take place in the next 10 to 15 years, reported the Financial Times, citing Wu.
