How will China’s plans for lunar exploration impact the rest of the world?
This Week In Spaceflight: China’s Lunar Plans, North Korea’s Failed Launch, and Starliner Delays
China’s Lunar Plans
China is planning to launch its Chang’e 5 mission to the moon to collect samples from the lunar surface. The mission is set to launch on November 24, 2020. If successful, China will become the third country to retrieve samples from the moon, after the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Chang’e 5 mission includes a robotic lander that will drill into the lunar surface to collect samples. The spacecraft will then return to Earth with the samples. China plans to study the composition of the samples to gain a better understanding of the moon’s geology.
North Korea’s Failed Launch
North Korea attempted to launch a new missile on Saturday, but the launch was unsuccessful. The missile, which was launched from a submarine, reportedly flew only a few kilometers before crashing into the sea.
The launch is the latest in a series of missile tests by North Korea in recent months. The country has been working to develop its missile capabilities, despite international sanctions.
Starliner Delays
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which is being developed to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has experienced another delay. The spacecraft was set to launch on an uncrewed test flight in late 2020, but that launch has been postponed until early 2021.
The delay is due to ongoing software issues with the spacecraft. Boeing says it is working to address the issues, but the delay means that the Starliner will not be ready to transport astronauts to the ISS until at least 2022.
Conclusion
This week has seen a range of spaceflight developments, from China’s lunar mission to North Korea’s missile test to Boeing’s Starliner delays. As we continue to explore space, we are sure to see more exciting developments in the coming weeks and months.