Nine Heavens to Pluck the Moon: Return to the Moon for Further Exploration

Author: Zhou Wu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: At the moment of the world-renowned launch of China's Shenzhou 6, the "New Knowledge Series on Manned Spaceflight" was grandly launched by Jiangxi University Press. This is currently the most authoritative and up-to-date series of popular books on manned spaceflight in China, and also a space science popularization feast dedicated by the press to cheering for China's "Shenzhou 6." In 2003, the successful launch of China's Shenzhou 5 not only inspired national pride but also sparked a new wave of public interest in space exploration. To meet the demand of space enthusiasts, especially young people, for the latest knowledge in manned spaceflight, Jiangxi University Press and the China Association for Science and Technology Writers jointly planned this series, aiming to introduce the latest popular science knowledge in manned spaceflight. The series consists of six volumes: "The Spaceship to the Stars – An Overview of Spacecraft," "The Space Shuttle Bus – The Joys and Sorrows of the Space Shuttle," "The Cosmic Castle – The Development Path of Space Stations," "Strolling in the Blue Sky – Astronauts' Spacewalks," "Gathering the Moon – Re-exploring the Moon," and "Interstellar Homeland – Mars Exploration and Development." They respectively introduce three types of manned spacecraft—spacecraft, space shuttles, and space stations—and three types of space activities—spacewalks, lunar development, and Mars exploration—covering the main achievements of human manned spaceflight technology today. Due to the significant subject matter, authoritative content, and alignment with market demand, the series was included in the "Five-Year Plan" national key book project by the General Administration of Press and Publication. The series was jointly organized and written by authoritative departments of space science research—China Academy of Space Technology and the China Association for Science and Technology Writers. Professor Min Guirong, an academician of the International Astronautical Federation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, served as the chief editor, with a strong team of contributors including well-known space science popularization writers such as Pang Zhihao, Wu Guoxing, and Zhou Wu, presenting new technological knowledge of manned spaceflight from around the world, especially many newly declassified materials since the Shenzhou 5 launch, in a vivid and illustrated format. At the time of the successful return flight of the U.S. Discovery Space Shuttle and the smooth launch of China's Shenzhou 6, the latest knowledge and information about the Discovery and Shenzhou 6 were also included in the series, launched by Jiangxi University Press in a timely manner to delight readers. The series is printed in color with exquisite binding, making it worth reading and collecting. President of the China Association for Science and Technology, Zhou Guangzhao, also happily wrote a preface for the series, recommending it to readers.
The 20th century was only a brief moment in human history, but for the development of human society, it was a turning point. In this century, the world's population nearly tripled, increasing from 1.7 billion at the beginning of the century to 6 billion by the end. By the end of this century, it is expected to exceed 12 billion. The Earth, which humans depend on for survival, will no longer be able to accommodate such a rapidly growing population. One important solution is for humanity to migrate to outer space. The Moon is Earth's only satellite and the closest planet to Earth, making it a natural target for humanity's outward migration and a midway station and base for traveling to other planets. Since the 1990s, when probes discovered traces of water on the Moon, human exploration of the Moon has been relatively quiet, but it has recently become lively again. The race to "claim" the Moon has become a hot topic in space science, with the United States, Russia, the European Union, Japan, and India all formulating corresponding lunar exploration plans. A new wave of lunar exploration fever has begun to spread globally, similar to the competition for Antarctica in the past.
The Moon is a common treasure of all humanity, but international law states: "Whoever develops it first, benefits first." As a rising space power and the homeland of Chang'e, China has timely launched the Chang'e Project, joining the global wave of lunar exploration. Unlike the U.S.-Soviet lunar race in the 1960s and 1970s, the new era of lunar exploration is not about leaving footprints and planting flags, but about better understanding the Moon and utilizing its unique natural conditions to establish lunar bases, preparing for the development of lunar resources and long-term habitation.