Science and Health

Argentine expert praises China's space program

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-15 11:28

BUENOS AIRES - China's space program has made a giant leap forward with successful manned flights and a space walk, President of the Argentine Association for Space Technology (AATE) Pablo De Leon said Thursday.

"China is part of a select group of nations, together with the United States and Russia, which has had a progressive growth of its program to conquer space," De Leon told Xinhua.

De Leon, also an aerospace engineer and a NASA team member, said that China was likely to build a base on the moon in the coming years.

"China's advantage, compared to other countries, is that its plans and programs for space are long-term. It is the right thing, because all these cases are complex projects that require a long execution," De Leon said.

Last week, Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, said China is committed to all treaties on outer space, as well as to exploring and using outer space for the benefit of mankind.

China's manned space project, launched in 1999, has made seven flights, sent six astronauts into space on three occasions and performed a space walk, Li said.