China may have made huge strides in its space program. The most recent advancement that China made with regards to its space program was to share its findings with its European counterpart in a bilateral meeting. Russia has committed to help China in its rocket research; the rest of Europe seems to be hot on the heels of Russia.
However, a statement by CNSA deputy director Pei Zhaoyu on Twitter was misconstrued as his being 'unimpressed' with NASA's recent accomplishment. Ars Technica reports NASA as having completed a 'lunar gateway,' an orbital 'gateway' which will serve as a platform for deep space platforms. The gateway will be focused away from the moon.
Pei tweeted his opinion on the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, as it is officially known. It is his opinion that NASA created the LOPG and it was an impressive feat; China, however, will focus on building the first lunar 'scientific research station'-a lunar base on the surface of the moon. The deputy director also seemed to compare the effectiveness of both, with the winner being a lunar base on the moon.
As for the LOPG, the lunar gateway is planned to be finished by 2025. By that time, it would act as a platform for missions involving deep space. It would also serve as a launch pad of sorts for missions involving the red planet, Mars.
The components will be sent up in increments. The platform, power, and propulsion elements of the orbital platform will be sent up early next year when construction of the platform is set to begin. Afterward, components which are meant to house the platform's crew, as well as visiting crews preparing for deep-space missions, will be sent up.
By 2025, SCMP reports, NASA should have the lunar platform up and about, ready to serve missions in deep space and, hopefully, beyond. It will be manned by a four-astronaut crew, living and maintaining the orbital station on 30-day missions. Deputy director Pei has other ideas about it, however.
While NASA delays another lunar landing, China is focused on it, certain that a research centered on our closest neighbor in space is more important. Some critics seem to share the deputy director's idea, saying that lunar activities should be the focus of humankind in the meantime. It remains to be seen, however, whether Europe will go along with China's plans, or will try and serve two space missions at a time.
