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The space race: on China’s moon mission
News:
China’s recent moon mission could trigger rivalry with the U.S. in outer space.
Important Facts:
Why China and U.S are competing.
- Potential for Fuel reserve – Unlike earth, the moon has an abundance of helium-3. In the far future, this can serve as the ideal fuel to power a new generation of spaceships
- Human habitation – The Yutu-2, the rover of the ongoing Chang’e-4 mission, is programmed to explore the South Pole-Aitken Basin. This vast impact region, 13 km deep and 2,500 km wide, has copious reserves of ice. The promise of water has persuaded international space scientists a suitable site for a permanent lunar outpost, which is on China’s radar.
- Natural resources – The promise of the moon’s natural resources can add another layer of rivalry between the Chinese and the Americans. Space exploration has revealed asteroids as lucrative sources of precious metals such as gold, platinum, silver and iridium in the future.
