"Lift-off for China-US rivalry over space’s new frontiers" Topic

"During the cold war, US eyes were riveted on the Soviet Union's rockets and satellites. But in recent years, it has been China's space programmes that have most worried US strategists.

China, whose space effort is run by the People's Liberation Army, today launches more rockets into space than any other country – 39 last year, compared to 31 by the United States, 20 by Russia and eight by Europe.

On Thursday it landed a space rover on the dark side of the moon – a first by any country – and plans to build an orbiting space station in the coming decade. In the decade after that, it hopes to put a Chinese "taikonaut" on the lunar surface to make the first moonwalk since 1972….."
Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

I thought Michael Jackson made the first moonwalk after 1972?

Good to see they're up to 50 years behind us.

Does landing on the "dark side" of the moon really count as a "first", since we landed one or more space rovers on the moon decades ago?

What's next?

Landing one in each region, named crater, un-named crater, etc., as "firsts" also.

An orbiting space station around the moon IS overdue, so good to see they're pursuing that.

Yeah … they just landed a probe on the moon … And we landed men on the moon numerous times how long ago ?

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Perhaps they should land a woman on the moon, to check off that box.

The categories of other firsts to land on the moon include:

goldfish
cat(s)
dogs(s)
monkey(s)
lizard(s)
snake(s)
insect(s)
bird(s)

beer
burgers
pizza
other food items

etc., etc.

I hear Swiss Cheese is very popular on the moon …

I hear Swiss Cheese is very popular on the moon

Ha, reminds me of the 'Night Gallery' episode where astronauts found a giant mouse trap on the moon wondering what it was for.