China Mission in Lunar Orbit and May Race SpaceX for Next Lunar Manned Mission

China’s dark side of the moon mission has now reached lunar orbit.

China’s four-ton lander entered lunar orbit on Wednesday. They should be landing on the moon January 3rd, 2019. If the landing and operation is successful, this will be the first time a lunar rover lands on the far side of the moon.

China has another satellite in lunar orbit to relay communications from Earth to the rover. The Queqiao relay satellite is at the second Lagrange point (L2).

China plans to launch Chang’e-5 in 2019. It would be an unmanned lunar sample return mission.

China plans a permanent robotic lunar outpost in about 10 years. There could be European Space Agency partnership with China’s moon base.

China’s manned moon mission could be around 2035.

They have a steady space program that does not shift. They are the tortoise to the US hare.

If US commercial space continues to make massive progress, then the race for achievements with manned and unmanned missions will be with SpaceX and other New Space companies.

At the inaugural Morgan Stanley Space Summit Wednesday, 10 out of the 12 presenters believed China will be the next to put a human on the moon, before the US.

— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) December 12, 2018

The US unmanned missions and bases can be set up by commercial companies before 2025.

A SpaceX Super Heavy Starship could land manned missions on the moon before 2030.

Brian Wang

Brian Wang is a prolific business-oriented writer of emerging and disruptive technologies. He is known for insightful articles that combine business and technical analysis that catches the attention of the general public and is also useful for those in the industries. He is the sole author and writer of nextbigfuture.com, the top online science blog. He is also involved in angel investing and raising funds for breakthrough technology startup companies.

He gave the recent keynote presentation at Monte Jade event with a talk entitled the Future for You.  He gave an annual update on molecular nanotechnology at Singularity University on nanotechnology, gave a TEDX talk on energy, and advises USC ASTE 527 (advanced space projects program). He has been interviewed for radio, professional organizations. podcasts and corporate events. He was recently interviewed by the radio program Steel on Steel on satellites and high altitude balloons that will track all movement in many parts of the USA.

He fundraises for various high impact technology companies and has worked in computer technology, insurance, healthcare and with corporate finance.

He has substantial familiarity with a broad range of breakthrough technologies like age reversal and antiaging, quantum computers, artificial intelligence, ocean tech,  agtech, nuclear fission, advanced nuclear fission, space propulsion, satellites, imaging, molecular nanotechnology, biotechnology, medicine, blockchain, crypto and many other areas.