14 December 2018
Late last week, China launched its ambitious Chang'e-4 Moon mission. The spacecraft is carrying a robotic lander and rover that will make an unprecedented attempt at a landing on the far side of the Moon early in the New Year. But one observer of China's space program thinks this mission is another indication that China has become a legitimate space superpower and could be in a position to win the race to return humans to the Moon. Brian Harvey is a Dublin-based writer on space issues, and author of China in Space: The Great Leap Forward. He says space provides a platform for China's military interests and well as international prestige. Harvey is giving a overview on the Chang'e programme, the science involved, the difficulties, Chang'e 4 will meet once attempting to land on the far side of the Moon and on China's long-term plans for lunar exploration. Listen to the highly interesting and revealing CBC Radio interview with Brian Harvey (10 min) here...