Economic Daily commentator- Flying in the sky and grasping the moon creates a glorious chapter of the times
In a recent meeting with representatives of the Chang’e 6 lunar exploration mission, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a significant speech highlighting the importance of China’s achievements in lunar exploration. He emphasized that these accomplishments reflect the intelligence and hard work of generations of Chinese aerospace professionals. Xi pointed out that these successes serve as a testament to the remarkable progress China has made towards technological independence and self-reliance.
He urged a nationwide effort to foster the spirit of lunar exploration, which he described as being characterized by the pursuit of dreams, a courageous spirit of exploration, collaborative problem-solving, and a commitment to win-win cooperation. According to him, embracing this spirit would bolster national confidence and pride among the Chinese people, mobilizing a powerful force to advance national strength and contribute to the great rejuvenation of the nation through a uniquely Chinese model of modernization.
The aspiration to explore the moon has long been a part of the Chinese spirit. Since launching its lunar exploration program in 2004, China has successfully conducted several key missions, including Chang’e 1 and 2 to orbit the moon, Chang’e 3 and 4 for landing on both the near and far sides of the moon, and Chang’e 5, which successfully returned samples from the lunar surface. The forthcoming Chang’e 6 mission marks a historic first: returning lunar soil from the far side of the moon, showcasing the resilience, dedication, and determination of Chinese aerospace professionals. Their relentless efforts have transformed an age-old dream of lunar exploration into a remarkable reality, step by step.
Over the past two decades, the lunar exploration program has mobilized thousands of organizations and tens of thousands of scientists across China. Significant breakthroughs have been made in critical technologies including lunar transfer orbits, soft landings, lunar rendezvous, and high-speed re-entry. These advancements have spurred innovations in new devices, materials, and processes, greatly enhancing China’s core capabilities in deep space exploration and paving the way for high-quality lunar missions. Additionally, more than 1,900 academic papers have been published globally using data from Chinese lunar exploration, significantly extending our understanding of the moon’s geological lifespan by an estimated billion years. Notably, Chinese scientists discovered a new mineral from lunar soil, named “Chang’e Stone,” and were the first to identify molecular water in lunar samples, enriching our understanding of both the moon and the wider universe.
Space exploration represents a vital avenue for peacefully utilizing space for the benefit of all humanity. The Chang’e 6 mission is carrying international payloads from the European Space Agency, France, Italy, and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Chang’e 7 mission has already selected six international payloads, and there are over 30 applications for international collaboration for the upcoming Chang’e 8 mission. China is dedicated to expanding its global cooperation network for lunar scientific endeavors, offering its solutions for the peaceful use of space.
As deep space continues to beckon, humanity’s quest for knowledge seems limitless. With upcoming missions such as Chang’e 7 and 8, along with the Tianwen-2 and 3 planetary exploration projects, we must heed the earnest call from General Secretary Xi Jinping. We are committed to fostering the spirit of lunar exploration while continuing major aerospace initiatives. By achieving high levels of technological self-reliance, we aim to take the lead in development and strive to write a new chapter in our journey to build a strong aerospace nation!