Lunar exploration centre launched
By Zhao Huanxin (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-23 06:02

China's push to the final frontier gathered pace yesterday as authorities formally launched a lunar exploration centre in Beijing.

The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence yesterday also set up a centre to screen military industrial projects, and a watchdog to monitor the safety of special nuclear installations.

The Centre for Lunar Exploration Programme, approved by the State Council in January 2004, will design and carry out the country's unmanned moon probe project, the commission sources said.

"The centre should go all out and conscientiously organize and co-ordinate... to ensure all the tasks in the programme are completed as scheduled," Minister of the commission Zhang Yunchuan said at the centre's inaugural ceremony.

According to an initial plan unveiled last Monday, the country will send a probe to orbit the moon in 2007, which will scan the lunar surface.

In 2012, scientists will crash a lunar soft-lander into the moon to explore and analyse the lunar environment. Due in 2017, a third mission will scoop up lunar samples and bring them back to earth.

In the course of preparation, the lunar exploration centre has worked out a series of statutes regarding technological development, quality control and expenditure management, according to a statement from the commission.

The centre has also recruited a galaxy of promising and enterprising scientists and engineers to work on the lunar missions, the statement said.

Two more centres

The commission yesterday also inaugurated a defence project approval and auditing centre.

The launch of the centre represents the commission's latest move to transform its functions, allowing it to focus on macro management, according to sources with the commission.

The new institution is designed to study key issues in relation to the reform and development of the country's defence industry, particularly on policies and measures to strengthen investment management, the commission said in its statement.

The centre will be in charge of defence project approval, supervision, auditing, consulting and evaluation.

The third centre the commission set up yesterday is a technology assessment and supervision centre for special nuclear facilities.

The commission did not give details of the special nuclear facilities, but Minister Zhang said the centre will ensure facilities in China operate safely and effectively.

(China Daily 08/23/2005 page1)

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