China says its lunar probe program has no military purposes

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has categorically said that its first lunar probe program Change-1 has no military purposes.

New Delhi, Nov 2 : The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has categorically said that its first lunar probe program 'Chang'e-1' has no military purposes.

"China has undertaken astronautical activities with the principle of 'peacefully utilizing space'," Pei Zhaoyu, the CNSA spokesman, said.

"The purpose of China's space program, including missions to probe lunar and outer space, is to explore the universe and benefit humanity," he said, adding that the country's lunar probe is an open and transparent program.

"The program's objective, general plan, technical means as well as the major developers and manufacturers, have all been publicized," Xinhua news agency quoted him, as saying. "We will also keep the public informed about the major progress of its research and development."

He further said that China was looking forward to carry out active cooperation and communication with any country in exploring lunar and outer space.

"Actually, the Chang'e-1 program has already involved eight space experts from China's Hong Kong and Macao regions," Pei said.

He added that the experts have joined an engineering commission consisting of 122 scientists to research and apply the information collected by the Chang'e-1 satellite.

Under the lunar probe program, the data collected by the satellite will be given to several research institutes and some will be shared internationally a year later.

Pei went on to call upon the Chinese people across the world, including compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, to participate in the space program to realize the Chinese dream of exploring the universe.

China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, named after a fairy-tale Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket on October 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwestern Sichuan Province, the agency reported.

ANI