China monitors the moon: Spacecraft enters orbit to plan for possible mining mission

[jakeXT]

The craft will collect data to aid planning of the 2017 Chang'e 5 mission

Chang'e 5 is being designed to make a soft landing on the moon and collect at least 4lbs (2kg) of rock and soil samples before returning to Earth

China is also looking to mine the moon for the rare helium isotope that some scientists claim could meet global energy demand far into the future

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2907136/One-big-step-China-Nation-successfully-enters-lunar-orbit-ahead-possible-mission-moon.html

[lastlib]

1. ...and we're putting Ted Cruz at the head of the Science Committee......

(guess who's gonna win this race....... . . . )

[jakeXT]

2. You could clone him and send him up

[Fred Sanders]

3. "The tides come in and the tides come out, there is is no explaining it."

[DetlefK]

4. Meanwhile, the US is arguing over whether they need functioning bridges.