Chinanews, Beijing, Feb. 6 – Chinese lunar probe project is being developed amid great challenges from other countries, some leading ahead of China in this aspect while others trying to catch up with China in their space technology. With no help from other countries, China will design and produce all devices needed for the lunar probe project on its own, said Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of China’s lunar exploration project.

 

Ouyang Ziyuan, who is a pioneer in the field of cosmochemistry in China and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made the statement at a forum held by the Association of Senior Engineers, Scientists and Technologists, the Science Technology Daily reported.

 

Since the moon has strategic importance to a country’s development in military and energy resources fields, many countries in the world are devoting great efforts to their lunar probe projects. Developed countries such as the United States, Britain, and Japan spend large amount of money to develop their lunar probe projects. India, which is also ambitious to develop its own lunar probe project, claims that it wants to send manned spacecraft into the moon four years ahead of China. Under this situation, it is impossible for China to get any help from other countries in developing its lunar probe project, Ouyang Ziyuan said.

 

China intends to put 1.4 billion yuan in three years to complete the first stage of its lunar probe project. Compared with other countries, such economic input was not big for China, the scientist said, for the United States has spent a total of 25.6 billion US dollars in its Apollo Program, which has proved fruitful since the program has greatly boosted the U.S. technologic and economic development.

 

“As a matter of fact, the lunar probe project is one that China can’t afford to miss. If China doesn’t do it now, it will lag behind others and will be subjected to 'bullying and beating' in future,” he said.

 

He also stressed that in order to develop the lunar probe project, China will not only make use of private funds, but also take advice from the public.

 

“We will definitely do that (respect public opinions),” the scientist said.