What’s Next For China’s Space Program?
Summary
This episode delves into China's ambitious and rapidly advancing space program, discussing its recent Tianwen-2 asteroid mission, strategic step-by-step lunar exploration leading to planned crewed missions, and the development of space stations and international lunar bases. It explores the program's structure, unique scientific achievements like far-side lunar sample return, challenges in transparency, and exciting future plans such as lunar construction. The episode also features a segment on a new tactile astronomy book designed for visually impaired readers.Episode description
This week, China’s Tianwen-2 spacecraft sent back its first image from space. It’s headed to a rendezvous with the asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, one of Earth’s “quasi-moons,” where it will collect samples in 2026. The mission comes after several successful lunar missions, including a lunar rover and a sample return mission from the far side of the moon. Host Ira Flatow talks with reporter Ling Xin from the South China Morning Post about the goals of China’s space program, and what might be ahead.
Plus, astronomer Dean Regas describes his new “tactile astronomy” book, which seeks to bring stories of the constellations to young blind and low-vision readers.
Guests:
Ling Xin is a science reporter at the South China Morning Post based in Ohio.
Dean Regas is an astronomer, host of the “Looking Up” podcast, and author of the new book All About Orion.
Transcript is available on sciencefriday.com.
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