China to launch Chang'e lunar probe in October, 2010

China’s plans for lunar exploration proceed forward with the planned launch of the Chang’e 2 probe in October, 2010. Chang’e 2, like its predecessor Chang’e 1, will be a lunar orbiter, but will orbit the Moon in a much closer orbit and will carry much more sophisticated high resolution cameras and other sensor devices. The cameras will have a resolution of five meters.

Chang’e 2 will pave the way for China’s first lunar lander, the Chang’e 3, which is planned to deploy a rover on the lunar surface in 2012. Later lunar expeditions include a sample return mission and a possible manned lunar landing sometime in the late 2010s.

In the meantime the next manned orbital mission will consist of Shenzhou 8 and a practice target vehicle, the Tiangong 1. The two vehicles will practice rendezvous and docking maneuvers, crucial for a manned lunar mission or the construction of a space station.

While the Obama Administration has signaled a greater willingness for cooperation in space projects with the Chinese than the Bush Administration, details of such have yet to be negotiated. In the meantime the Obama Administration is pondering space exploration options presented by the Augustine Commission that include deferring lunar exploration for brief, deep space jaunts to destinations such as Earth approaching asteroids.