Mars landing

[Huey (Michael)]

Congratulation to China and the Chinese team who achieved landing on the Red Planet on their first go.
I'm looking forward to new scientific discoveries from China's space and planet exploration.

Huey

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

+1 from me.
They have done a wonderful job.

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

Ok .. I know I am going to get cruelled/crucified for having an opposing opinion, such is the world today. This is just a PR exercise which will yield no additional scientific data than what has already been obtained from countless US missions. In the words of DR Leonard H McCoy .. "It's Dead Jim". Other than pretty pictures what new scientific data did China's Moon Rover yield?

Why doesn't China branch out and do something that hasn't already been done. Be the first to send a probe to Enceladus.

Oh, this will get interesting now. Being the first is certainly harder. Looking at their rover, it seems to be much like the old NASA ones. Still it is an achievement to get the thing down on the ground in one piece. As to the intent, certainly it is a demonstration, but I doubt Elon Musk is too worried, although they are knocking off the Starship design now.

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

Ok .. I know I am going to get cruelled/crucified for having an opposing opinion, such is the world today. This is just a PR exercise which will yield no additional scientific data than what has already been obtained from countless US missions. In the words of DR Leonard H McCoy .. "It's Dead Jim". Other than pretty pictures what new scientific data did China's Moon Rover yield?

Why doesn't China branch out and do something that hasn't already been done. Be the first to send a probe to Enceladus.

You are joking?

1. It's a part of mars that hasn't been explored before, they are all searching for life and it is actually a whole planet.
2. Do you know what scientific packages they have?
3. You have to start somewhere...
4. The Europeans have tried it a number of times and have not succeeded, so quite an achievement.

Just wow, why would you belittle it?

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Hope you feel the same towards the UK lander......
https://www.airbus.com/space/space-e...n/exomars.html

[drylander (Peter)]

If all this moon/ mars exploration stuff by the chinese how can they still be classified as a developing nation in regards to climate change targets? How many other 'developing' nations can afford to spend so much on space exploration?
Pete

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Fair question. I don’t know the criteria being applied, but India has also sent an orbiter to Mars.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by drylander

How many other 'developing' nations can afford to spend so much on space exploration?

In the case of China exploration means colonisation. Plenty of time though. China sea, Taiwan ... space is at the end of the TODO list.

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

In the case of China exploration means colonisation. Plenty of time though. China sea, Taiwan ... space is at the end of the TODO list.

It's a bit like Antarctica, they obviously see a benefit in being a "player" at the table.

[AndyG (Andy)]

Originally Posted by Zuts

You are joking?
... <cut out fair points>
Just wow, why would you belittle it?

With your fair points aside, I'd just say this is a flag planting exercise. In fact, in a way, it always has been, by everyone concerned. I respect (if not revere) the scientists who achieve this work, but they are not the ones paying the bills. Their achievements are by the grace of those holding the purse strings, who will get what they want.

Originally Posted by multiweb

In the case of China exploration means colonisation. Plenty of time though. China sea, Taiwan ... space is at the end of the TODO list.

As Marc said. Except most countries can execute their TODO's in parallel.