China has set up a lunar exploration centre in Beijing to spearhead the country's moon probe projects in its latest bid to secure its place as a major world space power.
"The Centre for Lunar Exploration Programme, approved by the State Council (cabinet) in January 2004, will design and carry out the country's unmanned moon probe project," the China Daily cited officials as saying.
They plan on an orbiter in 2007, a lander in 2012, and a sample return in 2017.
Now what's that abouta space race again? I guess they want to get robots to the moon at least before the Americans return its surface with manned missions.
Link, of course.
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