The United States built the 34-meganewton thrust rocket, the Saturn V, to send men to the moon back in 1969. Now the Chinese are building what appears to be a 29-meganewton thrust rocket that might do the same.
The China Academy of Launch-Vehicle Technology wants first to develop a 600-ton-thrust rocket engine, and then cluster five of the engines on a “heavy launcher,” said Li Tongyu, general manager of CALT’s marketing department.
Why go for the heavy launcher?
“Rockets (with 600-tonne thrust engines) would only be justified for things like sending humans to the moon, if such projects are approved,” Li Tongyu told BBC News.
Long-delayed travels. It seems that, in the modern age, when a nation combines good fortune with freer markets to build a colossal bank account, thoughts naturally turn to voyages to the moon and Mars.
I doubt Red China will be satisfied with a lunar landing.
Frank Warner
Red China wants the entire Red Planet for their own.
Posted by: CJW | July 29, 2010 at 01:22 PM
Who's a Megan Ewton and what does she have to do with space travel?
Posted by: Kevin | July 29, 2010 at 08:29 PM