FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

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Chinese Space Scientists on Chang’e-4 Mission, ‘Exploring the Unknown Is Human Nature’

Jan. 4, 2018 (EIRNS)—There is extensive coverage in the Chinese media of the astonishing Chang’e-4 achievement, and the ongoing activities of the lander, the rover, and the relay satellite. Comments by a number of China’s top scientists involved in the project are also reported:

“Exploring the unknown is human nature. The Moon is a mysterious world to us. We have a responsibility to explore and to understand it. Exploration of the Moon will also deepen our understanding of Earth and ourselves,”

said Wu Weiren, chief of China’s lunar program. On CGTN’s “China 24” program this morning, Wu said that although China started late in its lunar program, unlike the U.S. program it is not a race, but scientific, and started from a higher ground. He said China’s lunar program welcomes contributions, even in subsystems and system integration.

“It is a perfect display of human intelligence,” said Jia Yang, deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-4 probe, from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

“Solving those problems might help lay the foundation for future space exploration. High-precision landing is a necessity for further exploring the Moon and asteroids. We hope to be able to reach the whole Moon and even the whole Solar System,”

said Sun Zezhou, chief designer of Chang’e-4 probe from CAST.

“Exploring the far side of the Moon is one contribution China is making to the world. Although we still don’t know what we might find, this exploration might influence several generations,”

said Shen Zhenrong, a designer of the lunar rover.