New Delhi: It is China's most ambitious space project yet. Launched on Thursday evening, the Shenzhou VII spacecraft carries on board three astronauts - who'll walk in space for almost 40 minute - something no Chinese has ever done before.
"For this Shenzhou VII manned space mission, we have the confidence, determination and the ability to walk the first step in space for the Chinese people," says Astronout, Jing Haipeng.
The timing is hardly a coincidence - exactly a month before India's first mission to the moon, the unmanned Chandrayaan goes to space alsoChina's has 3 lunar missions in the making.
- First, it's a rover landing on the moon slated for 2012
- Second, A mission to return with samples from the moon in 2015
- And third, a manned lunar expedition in 2017 that's 3 years ahead of America's target of returning to the moon
Unlike other countries, China's scientific programme is not open to public debates or subject to insufficient budgetary allocations.
A fusion of political will and scientific appetite makes them strong contenders to overtake the US in the race to space.
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