2017年CRI China announces future space exploration programs at GLEX 2017

 

The 2017 Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) opens in Beijing on June 6, 2017. [Photo: cnr.cn]

China has announced some of its future space exploration programs at the ongoing¹ 2017 Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX).

The GLEX 2017 opened Tuesday in Beijing, revisiting China for the first time in 7 years.

China's first astronaut Yang Liwei said the country will carry out at least 4 manned spaceflight missions over the next 5 years to build a space station, which is set to be completed by around 2022.

The station's first core module² will be launched in 2019, followed by launches of 2 experiment modules³.

It will enable astronauts to stay in space for 3 months to half a year, and the selection of new astronauts will begin this year.

Yang also announced that China is making preliminary preparations for a manned lunar landing mission, which consists of a manned spaceship, a propulsion vehicle and a lunar lander.

Space theorists, scientists and engineers from both China and abroad attend the 2017 Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) in Beijing on June 6, 2017. [Photo: cnr.cn]

Meantime, China also released information about another 2 lunar exploration projects, namely the Chang'e-4 and Chang'e-5.

The Chang'e-4 probe is set to be the world's first to land on the dark side of the moon to carry out research, and its flight mission is scheduled for next year.

Liu Jizhong, director of Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the Chinese Society of Astronautics, said progress has been made in international space cooperation related to the mission.

"China sent out invitations with intent to enhance international cooperation as soon as it started its studies on the Chang'e-4 project and received many responses from other countries. Over a dozen countries have sent us more than 20 cooperation proposals. So far, it has been confirmed that the Chang'e-4 project will include projects from the Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Sweden," said Liu.

China plans to launch its Chang'e-5 mission at the end of November 2017, which will see an unmanned probe land on the moon, collect samples, and return to earth - a first for the Chinese space program.

Chinese Vice⁴ President Li Yuanchao (2nd from Right) attends the 2017 Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) in Beijing on June 6, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua/Zhang Ling]

At the conference, China also vowed⁵ to further enhance international aerospace⁶ cooperation by providing more opportunities for other countries.

Yang Baohua, deputy general manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said China is focusing not only on the cooperative projects, but also the values and capabilities⁷ on conducting research in related aerospace areas.

"For example, we cooperated with France in the China-France Oceanography Satellite and with Italy in the electromagnetic monitoring satellite for earthquakes. All those programs have profound significance in science and applications. Specially⁸, we will launch more cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road routes with an aim to jointly⁹ explore the universe and benefit the humans," said Yang.

Jan Woerner, Director General of the European Space Agency, also expressed willingness to achieve more international cooperation.

"As the European Space Agency, we have already some good cooperation with China, especially in science. So we have some experiments in microgravity, we are looking forward to a mission which is called SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer), which is investigating the magnetosphere of the Earth and influence of solar flares¹⁰. So there are a lot of opportunities for cooperation," said Woerner.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has also sent a letter of congratulations to the event, hoping that the conference will promote the development of space science and technology and help boost international exchanges and cooperation.

The 3-day GLEX 2017 will see nearly a 1000 space theorists, scientists and engineers discussing the challenges of space exploration as well as solutions and future development plans.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

3 modules   

n.模块( module的名词复数 )；单元；（宇宙飞船上各个独立的）舱；组件

参考例句：

• The course consists of ten core modules and five optional modules. 这门课程包括十个必修单元和五个选修单元。
• Our English course is divided into modules on poetry, drama, and novels. 我们的英语课分为诗歌、戏剧和小说等单元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

6 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

7 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

8 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

9 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

10 flares   

n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开

参考例句：

• The side of a ship flares from the keel to the deck. 船舷从龙骨向甲板外倾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation. 他是火爆性子，一点就着。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》