China, Russia to launch joint Mars probe mission
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-08-23 17:22
BEIJING -- China and Russia are planning a joint mission to Mars that will
not only return samples to earth but also land on one of red planet's tiny
moons, a Chinese space scientist here has said.
Ye Peijian, a leading scientist with the Chinese Research Institute of Space
Technology, made the announcement at an ongoing forum on China's space
technology development.
Ye said Russia will launch the spacecraft in 2009 and it will carry
China-made survey equipment. It will collect samples on Mars and the planet's
nearest moon.
Sun Laiyan, administrator of the China National Space Administration said
last month at an international space conference that China is actively planning
its deep space exploration over the next five years, focusing on lunar and Mars
exploration.
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