China could build an army of robotic ants to retrieve samples from asteroids as part of an ambitious plan for a new era of space exploration.
The country's lunar exploration director Liu Jizhong said in a speech that ant-like devices would be more flexible than rovers.
He also outlined plans to put a lander on the far side of the Moon and put satellites in place to explore the satellite's poles.
Because there may be water ice at these poles, the operation could eventually allow for the development of a Lunar base.
He said: "When exploring the unknown, we should not just follow others. China should be more creative."
Senior engineer Lin Yilu added: "If China expands the range of its lunar exploration, such as exploring the south and north poles and the far side of the moon, it needs a constellation of satellites covering different areas of the moon's surface."
You can read the rest @
http://news.sky.com/story/1570718/china-wants-a-moon-base-and-space-ants
Meanwhile, NASA is dreaming of going to Mars. Which country has the more realistic plan?
I go with China. They are coming into their own, while the US is mired in self-destructive strife and gender dysphoria.
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