moon probing

After publishing the first story of China’s Moon Rover back in March 2007, news about Chinese moon probing robots just keep on popping up. After a bit of research, we think the Moon Rovers “made in China” might be fueled by a much bigger ambition than merely putting a red flag up there.

Scientists believe that Helium 3 (aka 3He) found on the moon could be the ultimate solution to our huge energy problems on Earth. Not only because 3He is clean, stable and free of radioactivity, its potency can fuel nuclear fusion. Back in 2006, Russia's Energia Space Corporation already announced the plan to build a mining base on the Moon of 3He.

A new Moon Rover Prototype was unveiled on March 31st at a China-United Kingdom space technology seminar at Shanghai Aerospace System Engineering Institute. Adopting a wheel-leg design, this vehicle main task is to take 3D images, analyze soil samples, and perhaps look for a good site for the Helium 3 mine. With the expertise gained from developing these moon roaming robots, is China already at the first place in the 3He Rush to the Moon? Click Read more to view more Chinese Moon Rovers. ... continued

Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) at Shenyang Institute of Automation announced a major development milestone on the Chinese Moon Roving Vehicle Project on March 8th 2007. The “Preparation Study” of all essential technology elements on the moon rover had successfully passed the inspection by a group of Chinese space experts. ... continued