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China recently landed its third spacecraft on the moon and says the rover successfully collected material from the lunar surface.
The effort marks the first time in more than 40 years that a nation has collected samples from the moon to return to earth.
Observers believe that the most recent space mission – along with several others planned for the future – can help strengthen the image of the ruling Communist Party of China.
China is a generation behind the United States and Russia in their space exploration efforts. But its secret, military-linked space program is developing rapidly. His space projects include an explorer robot on the way to Mars, the development of a reusable space plane, and a planned human mission to the moon.
Kathleen Campbell is an astrobiologist and geologist at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She told The Associated Press that the next 10 years will be “quite critical” in space exploration.
“This is where we go transform out of near-Earth orbit and back into what people will call ‘deep space,’ ”Campbell said.
In 2003, China became the third nation to put an astronaut into orbit on its own. It took place more than 40 years after the former Soviet Union and the United States put astronauts into orbit. China’s first orbiting laboratory was launched in 2011. The second was launched in 2016. Plans call for the establishment of a permanent space station after 2022.
The latest moon landing represented “a historic step in China’s cooperation with the international community in the peaceful use of outer space,” said a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry.
The spokeswoman added, “China will continue to support” international cooperation and the exploration and use of outer space in the spirit of working for the benefit of all mankind. “
After astronaut Yang Liwei’s flight in 2003, Chinese space officials expressed hope for a manned mission to the moon starting in 2020. They then delayed that goal until at least 2024.
China’s space plane would be its version of the American space shuttle and the short-lived Buran space plane of the former Soviet Union.
China has also launched its own network of Gps satellites so your military doesn’t have to rely on US or Russian-operated GPS systems.
Last year, China became the first nation to land a spacecraft on the little-explored far side of the Moon. The Chang’e 4 and its robot scout are still working. The spacecraft sends signals to Earth via an orbiter that passes the other side of the moon. China’s first lunar lander, Chang’e 3, is still in operation.
China has also joined the race to explore Mars. Its Tianwen-1 spacecraft launched in July on a mission to search for signs of water on the Red Planet. It is scheduled to complete its 470 million kilometer journey in February.
China’s military-led space program is more secretive than those of other governments. Yang and other Chinese astronauts made very few public appearances after their flights. This is compared to the Soviet and American astronauts who were sent advertising trips to visit large crowds around the world.
I am Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
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Words in this story
sample – n. a small amount of something that represents what it is
mission – n. a flight of an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task
transform – v. to change something completely generally in a good way
benefit – north. a good or useful result or effect
Gps – north. (short for global positioning system) – a radio system that uses satellite signals to tell you where you are and to give you directions to other places
advertising – north. the activity of ensuring that a person or thing attracts a lot of interest and attention from many people
