Chinese scientists have presented a roadmap for the development of the Solar system
Chinese scientists have published a roadmap for the exploration, extraction and use of water ice and mineral resources on the Moon, asteroids, Mars and other objects of the Solar System, the South China Morning Post reports.
The project was named "Tiangong Kaiu", which means "Disclosure of natural things revealed by the sky". This expression is taken from the work of the same name by the scholar of the Ming era (1368-1644) Sun Yingxing.
The roadmap covers the period up to 2100 and is one of the most ambitious initiatives in the field of space economy.
According to Wang Wei, a leading scientist of the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the project is aimed at strengthening national security, developing science and technology, as well as increasing China's international prestige. He also noted that space resources have a huge potential for creating new industries and markets, as well as for solving problems of energy, ecology and food on Earth.
The plan includes the construction of facilities for the use of water ice on the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, Mars, asteroid Belt objects, Jupiter satellites. Water ice is a valuable resource, as water, oxygen and hydrogen can be obtained from it. According to Chinese scientists, out of 1.3 million asteroids in the Solar System, 122 are economically suitable for development.
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